hektopascalum

The hektopascalum is a unit of pressure, specifically an SI derived unit. It is equal to 100 pascals. The pascal (Pa) is the SI unit of pressure, defined as one newton per square meter (N/m²). Therefore, the hektopascal (hPa) is equivalent to 100 N/m².

The hektopascal is commonly used in meteorology for reporting atmospheric pressure. Weather stations typically measure and report atmospheric pressure in hectopascals. This unit is often preferred over the standard pascal because it results in more manageable numerical values for typical atmospheric pressures. For example, standard atmospheric pressure at sea level is approximately 101,325 pascals, which is equivalent to 1013.25 hektopascals.

Another unit of pressure, the millibar (mb), is also used in meteorology and is numerically equivalent to the hektopascal. One millibar equals 100 pascals, just like the hektopascal. Historically, the millibar was more widely used, but the hektopascal has become the standard in many meteorological organizations due to its direct relationship with the SI system. The conversion between hektopascals and other pressure units, such as inches of mercury or millimeters of mercury, is also frequently encountered in meteorological contexts.