ESS200A
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Hydrostatic Balance and Atmospheric Vertical
Structure
qSince P= rRT (the ideal gas law), the hydrostatic equation becomes:
dP = -P/RT x gdz
è dP/P = -g/RT x dz
è P =
Ps exp(-gz/RT)
è
P = Ps exp(-z/H)
qThe atmospheric pressure decreases exponentially with height
(from Meteorology Today)