| When hiking, do you carry an altimeter? If you | | | | cooling. As the air cools, the moisture becomes |
| do, you know that it indicates, more or less | | | | visible in the form of clouds or fog. Eventually, as |
| accurately, your elevation above sea level. That's | | | | it cools further, it turns into larger and larger |
| why you carry it, right? Well, it can also help you | | | | droplets, and these finally fall from the sky as |
| predict the weather. | | | | rain, snow or some other form of precipitation. |
| | | | | |
| What your altimeter is actually measuring is air | | | | Now, what if your altimeter shows that you are |
| pressure. As you hike up, air pressure lessens | | | | descending in elevation when you are still just |
| and your altimeter indicates a higher elevation. As | | | | sitting there going nowhere. Well, that's an |
| you hike down, on the other hand, air pressure | | | | indication of an approaching high pressure |
| increases, and your altimeter indicates a lower | | | | area. High pressure means heavier, warmer, |
| elevation. | | | | descending air, and ultimately better weather. |
| | | | | |
| But, what if you are just sitting there and your | | | | In short, if your altimeter shows that you are |
| altimeter shows that you are climbing? Well, it is | | | | descending and you're not, there's likely to be |
| telling you that the air pressure where you are | | | | good weather ahead. If on the other hand your |
| sitting is dropping. And this is a good indicator of | | | | altimeter shows that you're climbing, and you are |
| an approaching low pressure area. You know, | | | | not, it's an indication that foul weather may be on |
| that big "L" on the weather map? | | | | the way. |
| | | | | |
| You see, a low pressure area is often associated | | | | So, hike a little smarter. Set your altimeter to |
| with precipitation and storms. This is because air | | | | multitasking. |
| with a relatively low pressure is rising and | | | | |