Curriculum
Course: Elements of the Weather
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Text lesson

Atmospheric pressure

Atmospheric pressure is the weight of the air pressing down on the earth’s surface. When atmospheric pressure is high, we have fair or sunny weather. When atmospheric pressure is low, we have rainy weather.

Atmospheric pressure can be measured in millibars or inches of mercury. An instrument called the barometer is used to measure atmospheric pressure. Look at the picture below.

 

This is one type of barometer. Notice that as the pressure changes, the weather changes too.