Re: more atmospheric pressure and latitude

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From: Paul Doherty (pauld@exploratorium.edu)
Date: Sat Aug 21 2004 - 10:43:15 PDT 

Message-Id: <l03110738bd4d38ba24c9@[192.168.112.30]>
Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2004 10:43:15 -0700
From: Paul Doherty <pauld@exploratorium.edu>
Subject: Re: more atmospheric pressure and latitude

Hi again

The scale height of the atmosphere z , the height at which the atmospheric
pressure is 1/e of the surface pressure, is z = kT/mg (where the
temperature of the atmosphere is assumed to be constant T in kelvin.)

where k is boltzman's constant, g is the acceleration of gravity (which is
less at the equator than at the poles due to the equatorial bulge and
rotation of the earth. It is under 1% different at the equator compared to
the poles.) and m is the mass per mole of the atmospheric gas.

There is no change in composition worth mentioning versus latitude so m is
the same.

The only major change with latitude it T.

If T is lower, the scale height is lower, and the pressure and so the
density decreases more rapidly with altitude.

Paul D

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