Atmospheric pressure at sea level exerts a measurable physical force on all objects
the verdict
SUPPORTED
the evidence backs this
refutedsupported
the weight of evidence
5 sources for · 0 against
Peer-reviewed science and reference literature establish that the atmosphere's weight under gravity exerts a measurable static pressure and physical force per unit area at sea level.
The objective of barometry is to measure the static pressure exerted by the atmosphere. Static pressure is the force per unit area that would be exerted against any surface in the absence of air motion. It is an isotropic, scalar quantity. Dynamic pressure is the force per unit area due to air motion. It is a vector quantity, following the wind vector. This chapter is concerned with determining the static air pressure and doing so in the presence of air motion (wind) that requires special measurement techniques. The Earth’s atmosphere exerts a pressure on the surface of the Earth equal to the weight of a vertical column of air of unit cross-section. Since air is a fluid, this pressure, or force, is exerted equally in all directions. The static pressure at the surface is given by where g(z) = acceleration due to gravity at height z above sea level in ms-2, and ρ = density as a function of height, kg-3. The SI unit of pressure is the pascal, abbreviated as Pa. In meteorology, the preferred unit of pressure is the mb or the hPa (equivalent magnitude). Table 2-1 lists some conversion factors for units currently in use in pressure measurement and also for some units no longer favored. Standard sea level pressure in various units is shown in table 2-2. The last line of table 2-2 refers to the units of Ibf in-2,also called psi (pounds per square inch). Pressure measurements are often called absolute (psia), gauge (psig), or differential (psid). Absolute pressure is simply the total
waves and the atmospheric stratification. It is one of the components of the air–sea interaction, with others being the atmospheric pressure on the water
In physical oceanography and fluid dynamics, the wind stress is the shear stress exerted by the wind on the
surface of large bodies of water – such as oceans, seas, estuaries and lakes. When wind is blowing over a water surface, the wind applies a wind force on the water surface. The wind stress is the component of this wind force that is parallel to the surface per unit area. Also, the wind stres
In physical oceanography and fluid dynamics, the wind stress is the shear stress exerted by the wind on the
surface of large bodies of water – such as oceans, seas, estuaries and lakes. When wind is blowing over a water surface, the wind applies a wind force on the water surface. The wind stress is the component of this wind force that is parallel to the surface per unit area. Also, the wind stress can be described as the flux of horizontal momentum applied by the wind on the water surface. The wind stress causes a deformation of the water body whereby wind waves are generated. Also, the wind stress drives ocean currents and is therefore an important driver of the large-scale ocean circulation. The wind stress is affected by the wind speed, the shape of the wind waves and the atmospheric stratification. It is one of the components of the air–sea interaction, with others being the atmospheric pressure on the water surface, as well as the exchange of energy and mass between the water and the atmosphere.
pressure, n. Force per unit area. The pressure exerted by the weight of the earth’s atmosphere is called atmospheric or, if indicated by a barometer, barometric
By the end of this section, you will be able to:
We live at the bottom of the ocean of air that envelops our planet. The atmosphere, weighing down upon Earth’s surface under the force of gravity, exerts a pressure at sea level that scientists define as 1 bar (a term that comes from the same root as barometer, an instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure). A bar of pressure means that each square centimeter of Earth’s surface has a weight equivalent to 1.03 kilograms pressing down on it. Humans have evolved to live at this pressure; make the pressure a lot lower or higher and we do not function well. The total mass of Earth’s atmosphere is about 5 × 1018 kilograms. This sounds like a large number, but it is only about a millionth of the total mass of Earth. The atmosphere represents a smaller fraction of Earth than the fraction of your mass represented by the hair on your head. The structure of the atmosphere is illustrated in Figure 8.12. Most of the atmosphere is concentrated near the surface of Earth, within about the bottom 10 kilometers where clouds form and airplanes fly.
Instrument for measuring the height of a point above sea level. The typical altimeter is an aneroid barometer that determines altitude from the atmospheric pressure, which decreases with altitude.
Everything we examined (5)
This check searched the claim as stated. It did not run a separate search for evidence against it.