What is Barometric Pressure?
Barometric pressure is the weight of the overlying air pressing down on the earth. It is also known as air pressure. Low barometric pressure means the overlying air is rising, whereas high pressure means the overlying air is sinking.
Why is Barometric Pressure Important?
Barometric pressure has important effects on water chemistry and weather conditions.
Barometric pressure affects the amount of gas that can dissolve in water. More gas, such as oxygen, can dissolve in water under higher barometric pressure than under lower barometric pressure. For instance, more oxygen is dissolved in water at sea level than at high altitudes.
The pressure of the overlying air forces more gas into solution. As the overlying pressure decreases, gas is released from solution. For instance, this is what happens when you open a carbonated beverage.
High barometric pressure supports sunny, clear, and favorable weather conditions. Low barometric pressure promotes rainy and cloudy weather conditions. Barometric pressure has been used for hundreds of years to forecast weather conditions. Differences in barometric pressure over large inland lakes can produce seiches, which affect water levels in the lake and adjoining estuaries.
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Air Quality
