1. What is Atmospheric Pressure at Altitude?

Definition: This calculator estimates the atmospheric pressure at a given altitude above sea level.

Purpose: It helps meteorologists, pilots, engineers, and scientists understand how air pressure changes with elevation.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the barometric formula:

Where:

• \( P \) — Atmospheric pressure (Pascals)
• \( h \) — Altitude above sea level (meters)
• 101325 — Standard atmospheric pressure at sea level (Pa)
• 0.0065 — Temperature lapse rate (K/m)
• 288.15 — Standard temperature at sea level (K)
• 5.2561 — Exponent derived from physical constants

Explanation: The formula models how atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with altitude in the troposphere.

3. Importance of Atmospheric Pressure Calculation

Details: Understanding pressure at altitude is crucial for aviation, weather forecasting, high-altitude physiology, and engineering applications.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Simply enter the altitude in meters above sea level (must be ≥ 0) and click calculate.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is standard sea level pressure?
A: 101325 Pascals (1013.25 hPa), which is the International Standard Atmosphere value.

Q2: How accurate is this formula?
A: It's accurate for altitudes up to 11,000 meters under standard atmospheric conditions.

Q3: Why does pressure decrease with altitude?
A: Pressure decreases because there's less atmospheric mass above pushing down at higher elevations.

Q4: What's the pressure at Mount Everest's summit?
A: About 32,000 Pa (vs 101,325 Pa at sea level) - roughly 32% of sea level pressure.

Q5: Can this be used for other planets?
A: No, this formula is specific to Earth's troposphere. Other planets have different atmospheric compositions and scale heights.