Atmosfeerdruk

Atmosfeerdruk, also known as barometric pressure, is the force exerted by the weight of the atmosphere on a given area of the Earth's surface. It is a fundamental concept in meteorology and atmospheric science. The atmosphere is composed of gases, and these gases have mass. Due to gravity, this mass exerts a downward force, creating pressure.

At sea level, standard atmospheric pressure is approximately 1013.25 millibars (mb), which is equivalent to 101.325 kilopascals (kPa) or 1 atmosphere (atm). Atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude because there is less air above to exert pressure. This is why climbing a mountain can make breathing more difficult; the air is less dense and exerts less pressure on your lungs.

Changes in atmospheric pressure are closely related to weather patterns. High-pressure systems are typically associated with calm, clear weather, as air descends and warms, inhibiting cloud formation. Low-pressure systems, on the other hand, are characterized by rising air, which cools and condenses to form clouds and precipitation. Weather forecasts often refer to rising or falling barometric pressure as indicators of approaching changes in weather. Instruments used to measure atmospheric pressure are called barometers.