ENVIR

SC
1C03
ENVIR SC
Climate, Water, and
Climate, Water, and
Environment
Environment

1C03

Lecture 3 - Atmosphere: Pressure,

Density and Composition

Outline
1. Real-world Situations
2. Atmospheric Pressure
3. Air Density
4. Relation with Temperature
5. The Ideal Gas Law

Key Concepts
Atmospheric Pressure
Atmospheric Density and relation to
Atmospheric Pressure
Relation between Atmospheric Pressure
and Temperature
Ideal Gas Law

Climbing Mt Everest

2. Atmospheric Pressure

Weight
=
Mass

Gravity

Atmospheric Pressure

Pressure
=
Force/Area

Atmospheric Pressure
Weight = Mass g
=
10,339.3 kg 9.8 m s2
=
101,325 kg m s2
=
101,325 N
Pressure = Force/Area
=
101,325 N m2
=
=
=

Relation between Air Pressure and Altitude

Air pressure:

With rising
altitude, the
greatest drop
occurs:
Pressure, hPa

Climbing Mt Everest

3. Air Density

Density
=
Near sea level
=

Air Pressure and Air Density

Initial Air Density

Increased Air
Density

4. Relation with Temperature

Measuring Atmospheric Pressure

Standard sea-level
pressure
=
=
29.92 in Hg
=
76 cm Hg

5. The Ideal Gas Law

The law states
that:

p = pressure (Pa)
= air density
(kg/m3)
R = 287 (J/kg x K)
T=K

Pressure, hPa

The Ideal Gas Law

Pressure, hPa

Conclusion
Due to gravity:

Units of measurement for atmospheric

pressure are in hPa
The Ideal Gas Law describes: