How does atmospheric pressure change as altitude increases?

As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases. This relationship is primarily due to the weight of the air above a given point. At sea level, the air pressure is highest since the atmosphere has the greatest mass directly above. As you ascend, the amount of air above you decreases, leading to lower pressure.

This decrease in pressure with altitude can be observed in several ways. For instance, as aircraft climb to higher altitudes, pilots rely on altimeters that measure pressure to determine their elevation. These altimeters are calibrated based on the standard atmospheric pressure at sea level, and as the aircraft ascends, the pressure reading will fall, indicating an increase in altitude.

Understanding this concept is essential for pilots and meteorologists, as it affects not only altitude readings but also weather patterns and the overall behavior of the atmosphere. While it may seem intuitive to think that pressure could remain constant or even increase, the physics of the atmosphere clearly shows a consistent decrease in pressure as one goes higher into the troposphere and beyond.