Atmospheric Pressure

weather · physics · invisible forces · air

Air has weight. Even though we can't see or feel it, the air around us weighs something and pushes down on everything on Earth with constant pressure. This invisible push is what we call atmospheric pressure.

Standard measurement. Scientists measure atmospheric pressure in units like kilopascals and millibars. At sea level, Earth's atmospheric pressure is about 101.325 kilopascals, which is the standard they use for comparison everywhere.

Changes with altitude. When you go up a mountain or climb in an airplane, atmospheric pressure gets lower because there's less air above you pushing down. This is why your ears might pop at high elevations.

Affects our weather. Atmospheric pressure helps create wind, rain, and storms. When pressure drops, bad weather often moves in, and when it rises, the weather usually becomes clearer and calmer.

Keeps us alive. Atmospheric pressure holds our air close to Earth and makes it possible for us to breathe. Without this pressure, our atmosphere would float away into space.