High altitude are regions on the Earth's surface (or in its
At high altitude, atmospheric pressure is lower compared to sea level. This is due to two competing physical effects: gravity, which causes the air to be as close as possible to the ground; and the heat content of the air, which causes the molecules to bounce off each other and expand.[2]
The lower atmospheric pressure affects animals (including humans), due to the decrease in the partial pressure of oxygen.[3]
Because of the lower pressure, the air expands as it rises, which causes it to cool.[4][5] Thus, high altitude air is cold, which causes a characteristic alpine climate. This climate dramatically affects the ecology at high altitude.
See also
- Near space
- Barometric formula
- Alpine tundra
- High altitude wind power
- Effects of high altitude on humans
References
- ^ Webster's New World Medical Dictionary. Wiley. ISBN 978-0470189283. http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=8578.
- ^ "Atmospheric pressure". NOVA Online Everest. Public Broadcasting Service. http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/everest/exposure/pressure.html. Retrieved 2009-01-23.
- ^ Peacock, Andrew J (October 17, 1998). "Oxygen at high altitude". British Medical Journal 317 (7165): 1063-1066. http://www.pubmedcentral.nih.gov/articlerender.fcgi?artid=1114067.
- ^ Mark Zachary Jacobson (2005). Fundamentals of Atmospheric Modeling (2nd Edition ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-83970-X.
- ^ C. Donald Ahrens (2006). Meteorology Today (8th Edition ed.). Brooks/Cole Publishing. ISBN 0-495-01162-2.
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