Kestrel
®
4000 Pocket Weather
®
Tracker
Altimeter Setting
An aviation term for the local barometric pressure. Same as
reference pressure
.
Altitude
The distance above sea level. The Kestrel Meter calculates altitude based on the measured
station pressure
and the input
barometric pressure
- or “reference pressure”.
Barometric Pressure
The air pressure of your location reduced to sea level. Pressure will change as weather systems move into
your location. Falling pressure indicates the arrival of a low pressure system and expected precipitation or
storm conditions. Steady or rising pressure indicates clear weather. A correct altitude must be input for the
Kestrel Meter to display barometric pressure correctly.
Density Altitude
The
altitude
at which you would be, given the current air density. Often used by pilots in order to determine
how an aircraft will perform. Also of interest to individuals who tune high performance internal combustion
engines, such as racecar engines.
Dewpoint
The
temperature
to which air must be cooled in order for condensation to occur. The difference between
dewpoint
and
temperature
is referred to as the “temperature/dew point spread”. A low dewpoint spread
indicates high
relative humidity
, while a large dewpoint spread indicates dry conditions.
Heat Index
A practical measure of how hot the current combination of
relative humidity
and
temperature
feels to a
human body. Higher
relative humidity
makes it seem hotter because the body’s ability to cool itself by
evaporating perspiration is reduced.
