# Who uses the barometric pressure? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 24, 2009, 4:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469 "2009-05-24T16:35:07Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Miscue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8491ac/32.png) [@Miscue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miscue)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/21 "2009-05-26T09:37:42Z")
> [@manila](#): > > seconded, I have just started up a new gas pipeline in Northern Italy, You second him and I third you. I’ve made my living testing flows and volumes of natural resource facilities as well, and while I appreciate the news giving me pressures in the morning, there’s just no way we’re going to make any use of that type of information without getting it from our own, calibrated equipment. I’m still interested in an answer to the earlier question: who actually makes daily use of the information (beyond the normal ‘low pressure=bad weather’ assessment). ---
**Author:** ![Shamozzle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shamozzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shamozzle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 9:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/22 "2009-05-26T09:38:38Z")
> [@Sunspace](#): > > At what altitude does one have to start to take ambient pressure into consideration for cooking? I live around 85 metres above sea level. Do I need to adjust boiling time? I don’t think so. What about 1000 metres (around 3900 feet)? 2,000 metres? I was just joking around. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 10:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/23 "2009-05-26T10:34:35Z")
> [@Shamozzle](#): > > I was just joking around. It’s a valid question though, at some altitude water doesn’t get hot enough to be able to properly cook food, how high do you have to be for that to become a consideration? ---
**Author:** ![Isamu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/7c8e57/32.png) [@Isamu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isamu)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 10:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/24 "2009-05-26T10:37:44Z")
Like others in the thread, I’m not sure who would find the barometric report useful on a day to day basis. I sometimes take note of the barometric pressure before going sailing, but only after reading the actual weather forecasts. And even then I use the barometer on my watch because, well, that’s where I am right now rather than where the weather reporting station is. ---
**Author:** ![Papa\_D\_Bear](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b5ac83/32.png) [@Papa\_D\_Bear](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Papa_D_Bear)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/25 "2009-05-29T00:09:26Z")
Thank You for all the informed replies I’ll go with my hunch then “Because we always have” In the days before super-computers and weather satelites, knowing that the average is 100 kpa and that todays pressure is above or below, would be of value. Growing up, my father had a barometer in his bedroom and taught me to flick it with my finger to watch the needle move. I’m so happy to have found this site. I have more questions to post and hope to offer some valued responses of my own. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/26 "2009-05-29T00:55:13Z")
Knowing what the pressure is today doesn’t really tell you much. Looking at a synoptic chart is much more useful as you can deduce wind strength and direction as well as the likely weather conditions. Some weather segments in Australia will show the synoptic chart. ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Pearse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/richard_pearse/32/13144_2.png) [@Richard\_Pearse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Pearse)\ **Post date:** [May 29, 2009, 1:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/27 "2009-05-29T01:12:36Z")
As an example of why knowing just the pressure for today is not useful, here’s a [synoptic pressure chart](http://www.bom.gov.au/weather/national/charts/synoptic.shtml) for Australia. Note the low pressure regions near New Zealand are 101.2 and 101.3 kPa, right around the standard atmospheric pressure. If you were to consider pressure only, you might think the weather would be ok, however that pressure is low compared to the surrounding areas and there are two trough lines and a cold front associated with them. The weather over the South Island of New Zealand will be crap. By comparison, in the north of Australia, the pressure is also 101.2 kPa, however there is very little change in pressure over a large area, and the weather will be nice (it’s also the dry season in the tropics, the weather is nice up there for the next 5 months.) So 101.2 kPa means nothing without context. ---
**Author:** ![Napier](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce73a5/32.png) [@Napier](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Napier)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 4:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/28 "2009-05-30T04:25:25Z")
Water boils at about 201 F in Denver and 156 F atop Mount Everest. ---
**Author:** ![AskNott](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asknott/32/5790_2.png) [@AskNott](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AskNott)\ **Post date:** [May 30, 2009, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469/29 "2009-05-30T19:44:08Z")
When I tap on the barometer in my living room, the day’s change tells me a few useful things. Most importantly, I am reassured that I’m standing where I stood yesterday. 😉 If there’s been a big change, I know I’ll have to reset my Sleep Number® bed. If the pressure is unusually low, I know it’s time to tie down the hats and cats. I won’t have to bother with watering the lawn, or packing for an afternoon of sailing. Mostly, though, it’s a ritual that means very little to my actual life. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/who-uses-the-barometric-pressure/497469.md?page=1)