Using weather data from the internet to study how atmospheric pressure varies with altitude

摘要

This article presents a simple and motivating activity for schools and colleges that is based on active learning and the use of new technologies to study the variation in atmospheric pressure with height at the lowest altitudes. Students can learn how barometric pressure decreases with height by plotting the atmospheric pressure versus altitude using data obtained from the internet. Using similar methods to those of scientific researchers, the students can learn a practical rule to correct barometric pressure data with altitude, something that is usually expressed at sea level in weather maps.