4-6 (lowest solar zenith angle) occurs on the Summer Solstice, while the shortest day of the year (highest solar zenith angle) occurs on the Winter Solstice. Day and night are of equal length (12 hours) worldwide on the Vernal Equinox (~March 21) and the Autumnal Equinox (~September 23).
Figure 4-6. Solar Zenith Angle Variations with Northern Hemisphere Seasons
Figure 4-7 illustrates the average seasonal temperature variation in the Northern Hemisphere for both maritime and continental locations. Note that the warmest (coldest days) of the year occur after the summer (winter) solstice. This is due to the time lag necessary for heat flow processes to fully heat (cool) the surface of the Earth.
Figure 4-7. Average Seasonal Temperature Variation in the Northern Hemisphere
4-7
4.6 Diurnal Temperature Variation. Diurnal temperature variation is the daytime maximum and nighttime minimum of air temperature due to variations of insolation caused by the rising and setting of the sun (variations of solar zenith angle) as the Earth rotates around its axis. Figure 4-8 depicts the typical diurnal temperature and radiation variations over land when the sky is clear.
Figure 4-8. Clear Sky Diurnal Temperature and Radiation Variations Over Land
Warming and cooling of the Earth depend on an imbalance between solar and terrestrial radiation. The Earth receives heat during the day through incoming solar radiation.
It loses heat to space by outgoing terrestrial radiation both day and night.
Shortly after sunrise, incoming solar radiation received at the Earth’s surface (insolation) becomes greater than outgoing terrestrial radiation and the Earth’s surface warms. Peak isolation occurs around noon, but maximum surface air temperature usually occurs during the midafternoon. This lag is necessary for the air near the ground to heat up due to conduction and convection with the surface. The Earth begins to cool once the rate of outgoing terrestrial radiation exceeds the rate of insolation.
4-8 At night, insolation is absent, but outgoing terrestrial radiation continues and the Earth’s surface continues to cool. Cooling continues until shortly after sunrise, when incoming solar radiation once again exceeds outgoing terrestrial radiation. Minimum surface air temperature usually occurs shortly after sunrise.
The magnitude of diurnal temperature variation is primarily influenced by surface type, latitude, sky cover (e.g., clouds or pollutants), water vapor content of the air, and wind speed. Temperature variation is maximized over land, at low latitudes, with a clear sky, dry air, and light wind. Conversely, temperature variation is minimized over water, at high latitudes, with a cloudy sky, moist air, and strong wind.
5-1 CHAPTER 5. ATMOSPHERIC PRESSURE AND ALTIMETRY
5.1 Introduction. Atmospheric pressure is one of the most basic variables used to describe the state of the atmosphere and is commonly reported in weather observations. Unlike temperature and relative humidity, changes in atmospheric pressure are not as readily sensed by people. However, variations of pressure across the Earth are associated with pressure centers (either high pressure centers or low pressure centers) that cause the wind to blow and can bring important weather changes. Density, which is directly related to pressure, is a property of the atmosphere which can be used by pilots to help determine how their aircraft will perform at various altitudes.
This chapter discusses atmospheric pressure, how it is measured, and how it varies across the Earth. This chapter also covers the altimeter, which is a pressure sensor used by pilots to determine altitude. Finally, density will be discussed, along with its relationship to density altitude.
5.2 Atmospheric Pressure. The atoms and molecules that make up the various layers in the atmosphere are always moving in random directions. Despite their tiny size, when they strike a surface they exert pressure.
Each molecule is too small to feel and only exerts a tiny bit of pressure. However, when we add up all the pressures from the large number of molecules that strike a surface each moment, the total pressure is considerable. This is air pressure. As the density of the air increases, then the number of strikes per unit of time and area also increases.
Since molecules move in all directions, they even exert air pressure upwards as they smash into objects from underneath. Air pressure is exerted in all directions.
Atmospheric pressure is the force per unit area exerted by the weight of the atmosphere.
Since air is not solid, we cannot weigh it with conventional scales. Yet, three centuries ago, Evangelista Torricelli proved he could weigh the atmosphere by balancing it against a column of mercury. He actually measured pressure converting it directly to weight.
Figure 5-1. Air Has Weight
Air is composed of matter and, thus, has weight due to the pull of Earth’s gravity.
5-2
5.2.1 Barometer. The instrument Torricelli designed to measure pressure was called a barometer. The aneroid barometer is the type mostly commonly used by meteorologists and the aviation community.
Essential features of an aneroid barometer (see Figure 5-2) are a flexible metal cell and the registering mechanism. Air is taken out of the cell to create a partial vacuum. The cell contracts or expands as pressure changes. One end of the cell is fixed, while the other end moves the registering mechanism. The coupling mechanism magnifies the movement of the cell driving an indicator hand along a scale graduated in pressure unit.
Figure 5-2. Aneroid Barometer
5.2.2 Atmospheric Pressure Units. Atmospheric pressure is expressed in many ways throughout the world (see Table 5-1). Meteorologists worldwide have long measured atmospheric pressure in millibars (mb or mbar), which denote pressure as a force per square centimeter. However, after the introduction of the International System of Units (SI) in 1960, the hectopascal (hPa) was adopted by most countries and is used in the Aviation Routine Weather Report (METAR)/Aviation Selected Special Weather Report (SPECI) code first developed in 1968. Many meteorologists prefer to use the term they learned during their education and work experience. Therefore, some continue to use the term millibars, while others use hectopascals (which are equivalent). The unit inch of mercury (inHg or Hg) is still used in the United States for altimetry.
5-3 Table 5-1. Units of Pressure Units of Pressure Standard Atmosphere Value at Sea Level Common Use Hectopascals (hPa) 1013.2 hPa METAR/SPECI Millibars (mb or mbar) 1013.2 mb U.S. Weather Charts Inches of mercury (inHg or Hg) 29.92 inHg U.S. Aviation Pounds per square inch (psi) 14.7 psi U.S. Engineering
5.2.3 Station Pressure. The pressure measured at an airport is called station pressure, or the actual pressure at field elevation. Pressure is lower at higher altitudes. Therefore, airports with higher field elevations usually have lower pressure than airports with lower field elevations. For instance, station pressure at Denver is less than at New Orleans (see Figure 5-3).
Figure 5-3. Station Pressure
The next few subparagraphs will examine some factors that influence pressure.
5.2.4 Pressure Variation. Atmospheric pressure varies with altitude and the temperature of the air, as well as with other minor influences, such as water vapor.
5-4
5.2.4.1 Pressure Changes with Altitude. As we move upward through the atmosphere, the weight of the air above us decreases. If we carry a barometer with us, we can measure a decrease in pressure as the weight of the air above us decreases. Figure 5-4 shows the pressure decrease with height in the standard atmosphere.
Figure 5-4. Air Pressure in the Standard Atmosphere
These standard altitudes are based on standard temperatures. In the real atmosphere, temperatures are seldom standard, so we will explore temperature effects on pressure in the following subparagraphs.
5.2.4.2 Temperature Effects on Pressure. Like most substances, air expands as it becomes warmer and contracts as it cools. Figure 5-5 shows three columns of air: one colder than standard, one with standard temperature, and one warmer than standard. Pressure is equal at the bottom and top of each column. Vertical expansion of the warm column has made it taller than the
5-5 column at standard temperature. Contraction of the cold column has made it shorter than the standard column. Since the total pressure decrease is the same in each column, the rate of decrease of pressure with height in warm air is less than standard, while the rate of decrease in pressure with height in cold air is greater than standard.
Figure 5-5. Temperature Effect on Pressure
5.2.5 Sea Level Pressure. Since pressure varies greatly with altitude, we cannot readily compare station pressures between stations at different altitudes. To make them comparable, we adjust them to some common level. Mean sea level (MSL) is the most useful common reference. In Figure 5-6 pressure measured at a station at a 5,000-foot elevation is 25 inches; pressure increases about 1 inch of mercury for each 1,000 feet, or a total of 5 inches. Sea level pressure is approximately 25 + 5, or 30 inches of mercury.
Figure 5-6. Reduction of Station Pressure to Sea Level
Sea level pressure is typically displayed on surface weather charts. Pressure continually changes across the Earth, so a sequence of surface charts must be viewed to follow these changing pressures.
5-6
5.2.5.1 Sea Level Pressure Analyses (Surface Chart). After plotting sea level pressure on a surface chart, lines are drawn connecting points of equal sea level pressure. These lines of equal pressure are isobars. Hence, the surface chart is an isobaric analysis showing identifiable, organized pressure patterns. Four pressure systems are commonly identified: low, high, trough and ridge (see Table 5-2 and Figure 5-7).
Table 5-2. Pressure System Symbols Pressure System Symbol Definition Low
A minimum of atmospheric pressure in two dimensions (closed isobars) on a surface chart, or a minimum of height (closed contours) on a constant pressure chart. Also known as a cyclone.
High
A maximum of atmospheric pressure in two dimensions (closed isobars) on a surface chart, or a maximum of height (closed contours) on a constant pressure chart. Also known as an anticyclone.
Trough
An elongated area of relatively low atmospheric pressure.
Ridge
An elongated area of relatively high atmospheric pressure.
5-7 Figure 5-7. Surface Chart Pressure Patterns
5.2.6 Constant Pressure Surface. A constant pressure surface is a surface along which the atmospheric pressure is everywhere equal at a given instant. For instance, the 500 millibar constant pressure surface has a pressure of 500 millibars everywhere on it. The height (altitude) of a constant pressure surface varies primarily due to temperature; these heights can be measured by a rawinsonde.
5.2.6.1 Rawinsonde Observations. The National Weather Service (NWS) takes routine scheduled upper air observations, usually referred to as soundings.
A balloon carries a rawinsonde instrument (see Figure 5-8), which consists of radio gear and sensing elements. While in flight, the rawinsonde transmits pressure, temperature, and relative humidity data. Wind speed and direction aloft are obtained by tracking the position of the radiosonde in flight using Global Positioning Satellites (GPS). Most stations around the world take rawinsonde observations. However, meteorologists and other data users frequently refer to a rawinsonde observation as a radiosonde observation.
5-8 Figure 5-8. Weather Balloon and Radiosonde
5.2.6.2 Constant Pressure Surface Analysis (Upper Air Chart). These heights measured by the rawinsonde (and other types of instruments) are plotted on a constant pressure chart and analyzed by drawing a line connecting points of equal height. These lines are called height contours. What is a height contour?
First, consider a topographic map with contours showing variations in elevation. These are height contours of the terrain surface. The Earth’s surface is a fixed reference, and variations in its height are contoured.
The same concept applies to height contours on an upper air chart, except the reference is a constant pressure surface. Varying heights of the pressure surface are contoured. For example, a 700 millibar constant pressure analysis is a contour map of the heights of the 700 millibar pressure surface. While the contour map is based on variations in height, these variations are small when compared to flight levels, and for all practical purposes, one may regard the 700 millibar chart as a weather chart at approximately 3,000 meters (10,000 feet) above MSL.
5-9 A contour analysis (see Figure 5-9) shows highs, ridges, lows, and troughs aloft just as the isobaric analysis shows such systems at the surface. These systems of highs/ridges and lows/troughs are called pressure waves. These pressure waves are very similar to waves seen on bodies of water. They have crests (ridges) and valleys (troughs) and are in constant movement.
Figure 5-9. 500 Millibar Constant Pressure Chart
Table 5-3. Common Constant Pressure Charts Chart Pressure Altitude (approximate) Feet (ft) Meters (m) 100 mb 53,000 ft 16,000 m 150 mb 45,000 ft 13,500 m 200 mb 39,000 ft 12,000 m 250 mb 34,000 ft 10,500 m 300 mb 30,000 ft 9,000 m 500 mb 18,000 ft 5,500 m 700 mb 10,000 ft 3,000 m 850 mb 5,000 ft 1,500 m 925 mb 2,500 ft 750 m