ATOC/CHEM 5151 – Problem 4
Calculating Pressure vs Altitude, Simplified
Thursday, September 4, 2014
The simplified barometric formula can be used to estimate the pressure at any given height in
the atmosphere based on just one variable, T.
Use the following web site to calculate the pressure at the top of Mount Everest (29,029 feet) if
the atmospheric pressure at “ground level” (meaning sea level) is 101.3 kPa (1013 mbar).
http://hyperphysics.phy-astr.gsu.edu/hbase/kinetic/barfor.html
T = 298 K (25 oC)
P = __________ kPa
T = 273 K (0 oC)
P = __________ kPa
T = 258 K (-15 oC)
P = __________ kPa
Reflection:
Consider: It is often said that climbing Mt. Denali in Alaska (20,322 feet) in the middle of winter
when the surface temperature is -30 oC is similar to climbing Mount Everest during the warm
season (post-monsoon, April/May). Using the simple calculator, and a uniform temperature at
Mount Everest of 284 K, what would the temperature need to be at Denali in order for this to be
true? How realistic is this?