Hydrostatic Balance and Atmospheric Vertical Structure
q Since 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)
q The atmospheric pressure
decreases exponentially with
height