hyp·som·e·ter (h p-s m -t r)n. An instrument using the atmospheric pressure as measured by the change in the boiling point of water to determine land elevations. |
hypsometer [hɪpˈsɒmɪtə]
n
1. (Earth Sciences / Physical Geography) an instrument for measuring altitudes by determining the boiling point of water at a given altitude
2. (Mathematics & Measurements / Surveying) any instrument used to calculate the heights of trees by triangulation
| hypsometer (hp-sm-tr) An instrument used to determine land elevation by observing the atmospheric pressure as measured by the change in the boiling point of a liquid, usually water. Liquids boil at progressively lower temperatures as the atmospheric pressure decreases, and since atmospheric pressure decreases with altitude, the temperature at which the liquid boils is an indicator of the atmospheric pressure at that location and hence of the location's altitude. |
hypsometer
an instrument for measuring altitude by the relationship between atmospheric pressure and the boiling point of a liquid.
See also: Heights, Instruments
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  hypsometer - an altimeter that uses the boiling point of water to determine land elevationaltimeter - an instrument that measures the height above ground; used in navigation |
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