METEOROLOGY AND OCEANOGRAPHY

ATMOSPHERIC
PRESSURE
Understand, define and elaborate its concept
What We Will
Learn Today
ESSENTIAL KNOW-HOW

Introduction
Atmospheric Pressure Variations
Relevant Concepts

Course Presentation
Introduction It is commonly measured with a  barometer. In a
barometer, a column of  mercury  in a glass tube
DEFINITION OF TERMS rises or falls as the weight of the atmosphere
changes. Meteorologists describe the atmospheric
pressure by how high the mercury rises.
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE
Atmospheric pressure drops as altitude increases.
- is the weight of the atmosphere
As the pressure decreases, the amount
on a surface.
of oxygen available to breathe also decreases.
It is the force exerted on a surface
by the air above it as gravity pulls it At very high altitudes, atmospheric pressure and
to Earth. available oxygen get so low that people can
become sick and even die.

Course Presentation
 Atmospheric pressure is an indicator of weather.
When a low-pressure system moves into an area, it
usually leads to cloudiness, wind,
and precipitation. High-pressure systems usually
lead to fair, calm weather.

Course Presentation
Measurement
SYSTEM OF UNITS

Atmospheric pressure is expressed in

several different systems of units:

millimetres (or inches) of mercury

pounds per square inch (psi)
dynes per square centimetre
millibars (mb)
standard atmospheres
kilopascals

Course Presentation
How does atmospheric
pressure affect sea
level?
SHARE YOUR IDEAS.

Course Presentation
 AIR PRESSURE & SEA LEVEL

EXPLANATION:
Air pressure has a direct influence on the sea level. High air pressure exerts a force
on the surroundings and results in water movement. So high air pressure over
a sea area corresponds to low sea level and conversely low air pressure (a
depression) results in higher sea levels.

Course Presentation
AVERAGE PRESSURE AT SEA LEVEL

1013.25 MILLIBARS
ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE VARIATIONS

In the Pacific region, it normally varies from:

940 mbar to 1060 mbar
Surface Pressure
- is the atmospheric pressure at a location
on Earth's surface (terrain and oceans). It
is directly proportional to the mass of air
over that location.

Course Presentation
 DISCUSSION
Because gas particles in the air—like
particles of all fluids—are constantly
moving and bumping into things,
they exert pressure. The pressure
exerted by the air in the atmosphere
is greater close to Earth’s surface and
decreases as you go higher above the
surface.

Course Presentation
 LET'S WATCH A VIDEO!
To further understand the concept of atmospheric pressure.

Course Presentation
References
ONLINE RESOURCES

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atmospheric_pressure
http://ww2010.atmos.uiuc.edu/(Gh)/guides/mtr/fw/prs/def.
rxml
https://www.britannica.com/science/atmospheric-pressure
https://www.nationalgeographic.org/encyclopedia/atmos
pheric-pressure/
https://www.ck12.org/physics/atmospheric-
pressure/lesson/Air-Pressure-and-Altitude-MS-PS/
https://www.publish.csiro.au/sp/pdf/SP05002