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Density Altitude Query

Asked by: 4903 views ,
General Aviation, Student Pilot

Density Altitude = Pressure Altitude corrected for non-standard temperatures.

With that said, if it was a hot day AT SEA LEVEL and we were experiencing high pressure, I would have a high density altitude. 

Conversely, would it be accurate to say that if we were experiencing those SAME HOT TEMPERATURES AT SEA LEVEL on a LOW PRESSURE day, my density altitude would be even higher...due to the low pressure?

Since pressure lowers with altitude and performance is reduced...I would be inclined to believe that HOT TEMPERATURES on a low pressure day leads to worse performance than HOT TEMPERATURES on a high pressure day.

And yes, I realize that each particular elevation has a "standard temperature."

Ahhhhh, the atmosphere and the challenges that it brings us...

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2 Answers



  1. Plane Crazy on Nov 24, 2010

    And…NORMAL temperatures could be experienced with ABNORMAL pressure…but performance would be reduced as much, right?  I think I read the temperatures have a bigger effect on performance than pressure alone.
    I tend to view barometric pressure as more of a “physical pressure” on the barometer while I visualize temperatures causing the air molecules to spread out or clump together…
     

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  2. Jason Schappert on Nov 25, 2010

    The 3 big factors in density altitude are…
    Temperature
    Humidity
    Altitude (Field Elevation)
    For example high temps and high humidity increase density altitude.
     
    Jason

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