Air pressure is caused by the weight of the atmosphere pressing down on Earth. It changes with height and temperature. Differences in air pressure cause air to flow from high to low pressure areas, creating winds. Low pressure systems bring wet weather while high pressure systems bring sunny, dry conditions. When aircraft rise and fall, changes in air pressure can cause ear pain as the eardrums adjust to different pressures. Air pressure is measured using barometers and barographs which track pressure changes.
2. Can you feel air pressure?
When you take off or land in an aircraft, your
ears may hurt or feel uncomfortable. This is
because your eardrums can feel changes in
air pressure as the aircraft moves quickly up
and down.
But what is air pressure?
3. What is Air Pressure?
• It is caused by the weight of all the air in
the atmosphere pressing down on Earth.
• It is also known as atmospheric pressure.
• Air pressure changes with the height and
also when air warms up or cools down.
• Changes in air pressure cause changes in
the weather.
4. Differences in air pressure
Low Pressure
• When air rises, it leaves behind an area of
lower pressure, because the upward-
moving air is not pressing down so hard on
the surface.
5. High Pressure
• Areas of high pressure
are formed where air is
sinking back down,
and so pushing down
harder.
• >> see the diagram
6. • Since there are many areas of high and low
pressure above the Earth’s surface due to
uneven surface heating.
• Air moves from high pressure to low
pressure forming winds.
• As a result, the greater the difference
between the high pressure and low pressure
areas is, the higher the wind speed is.
7. Highs and Lows
• Pressure is different all
over the world.
• Lows are areas of low
pressure with the lowest
pressure at the center.
• Lows usually bring wet,
cloudy weather.
8. • Highs are areas of high pressure with the
highest pressure at the center.
• Highs bring sunnier, and dry weather.
• The way these move from day to day causes
the changes in the weather.
9. Measuring Air Pressure
• Air Pressure is measured in millibars (mb)
on a barometer.
• The simplest kind of barometer is a mercury
barometer and pressure is measured in mm
(in) of mercury.
• An aneriod barometer can measure move
conveniently.
• A barograph is a special kind of barometer,
which records continuous changes in air
pressure.
