What pressure does atmospheric pressure drop by for every 1000 feet of elevation gained?

As elevation increases, the atmospheric pressure decreases due to the reduced weight of the air above. The commonly accepted rate of pressure decrease with altitude is approximately 0.5 psi for every 1,000 feet. This decrease occurs because each column of air exerts pressure on the air below it; as you ascend in elevation, there is less air above, resulting in lower atmospheric pressure.

This knowledge is crucial for fire service pump operators, as they need to understand how changes in elevation can affect pump pressure and overall water supply at different locations during firefighting operations. Understanding the relationship between elevation and atmospheric pressure helps ensure that operators can effectively calculate and manage pump operations in various terrains.

Taking into account the other choices, 1 psi does not accurately represent the typical atmospheric pressure drop per 1,000 feet; it's more than the standard rate. Similarly, a drop of 2 psi over the same elevation change significantly overestimates the decrease in atmospheric pressure. Lastly, a drop of 0.1 psi is too low to be relevant in typical scenarios involving altitude changes, as it does not align with the established standard.