ESS220
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Hydrostatic Balance and Atmospheric Vertical Structure
q
Since P=
r
RT (the ideal gas
law), the hydrostatic equation
becomes:
q
dP =
-P/RT x gdz
q
è
dP/P =
-g/RT x dz
è
P =
P
s
exp(-gz/RT)
è
P = P
s
exp(-z/H)
q
The atmospheric pressure
decreases exponentially with
height
(from
Meteorology Today
)