The question "What is the average for pressure?" is ambiguous because "average" needs a context. Are we talking about average pressure at sea level, or an average over time, or over a certain area? Let's address the average at sea level, as that's a common point of reference.
Average Pressure at Sea Level
The standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is 1013.25 millibars (mb), which is equivalent to 1013.25 hectopascals (hPa). This value is considered the average pressure at sea level under normal conditions.
Understanding Pressure Units
- Pascal (Pa): The scientific unit of pressure, named after Blaise Pascal.
- Millibar (mb): A unit of pressure commonly used in meteorology; 1 mb = 100 Pa.
- Hectopascal (hPa): Another unit of pressure equal to 1 mb (1 hPa = 100 Pa).
Pressure Changes with Altitude
It's crucial to remember that pressure is not constant; it decreases as altitude increases. Therefore, the average pressure changes depending on the location's height above sea level.
Conversions
The reference also tells us:
- 1 Pascal = 0.01 millibar
- 1 Pascal = 0.00001 bar
Summary
| Unit | Value |
|---|---|
| Millibars (mb) | 1013.25 |
| Hectopascals (hPa) | 1013.25 |
This is a standard atmospheric pressure at sea level. It's not an average taken across multiple locations and altitudes. The "average" in most cases refers to this standard at sea level.
