Atmospheric pressure
hideAtmospheric pressure is sometimes defined as the force per unit area exerted against a surface by the weight of air above that surface at any given point in the Earth's atmosphere. In most circumstances atmospheric pressure is closely approximated by the hydrostatic pressure caused by the weight of air above the measurement point. Low pressure areas have less atmospheric mass above their location, whereas high pressure areas have more atmospheric mass above their location. Similarly, as elevation increases there is less overlying atmospheric mass, so that pressure decreases with increasing elevation. A column of air one square inch in cross-section, measured from sea level to the top of the atmosphere, would weigh approximately 65.5 newtons (14.7 lbf). The weight of a 1 m2 (11 sq ft) column of air would be about 101 kN (10.3 tf).
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News tagged with air pressure
Still a low chance of development for two lows
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Jul 22, 2009 |
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0
The two areas of thunderstorms in the Caribbean from yesterday, July 21, are on the move. One area is now moving into out of the Caribbean and into the eastern Atlantic Ocean while the other is now moving ...
COPD-related problems hard to swallow
Mar 26, 2009 |
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Patients with moderate to severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exhibit a disordered breathing-swallowing pattern that may account for their higher risk of aspiration pneumonia, according to new research from ...
Space station's close call with junk: More to come (Update 2)
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Mar 12, 2009 |
4.8 / 5 (5) |
3
(AP) -- The near-hit of space junk Thursday was a warning shot fired across the bow of the international space station, experts said. There's likely more to come in the future. With less than an hour's notice, ...
Researchers Study Cave's 'Breathing' for Better Climate Clues
Space & Earth / Earth Sciences
Mar 09, 2009 |
4.3 / 5 (3) |
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(PhysOrg.com) -- A University of Arkansas researcher studying the way caves "breathe" is providing new insights into the process by which scientists study paleoclimates.
Phoenix Lander Sees, Feels Martian Whirlwinds in Action
Space & Earth / Space Exploration
Sep 12, 2008 |
3.9 / 5 (9) |
4
(PhysOrg.com) -- NASA's Phoenix Mars Lander has photographed several dust devils dancing across the arctic plain this week and sensed a dip in air pressure as one passed near the lander.
