Aviation & Aeronautics
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Barometric Altitude

Altitude derived from the ratio of sea-level to measured pressure.

Formula

h=RTgln⁡P0Ph = \dfrac{RT}{g}\ln\dfrac{P_0}{P}

Variables

hAltitude
RGas constant
TTemperature
gGravity
P_0,PSea-level/measured pressure

Example

Altimeters work by comparing measured air pressure to the pressure at sea level.

Did You Know?

Altimeters are really barometers — they infer height from air pressure, which is why pilots must set the local pressure.

altitudepressurebarometric