03 February 2023

Atmospheric Rarefaction

Rarefaction of the atmosphere at 2249 metres

I like to remark, when back home in England, that in Mexico City the air is appreciably thinner than it is in Northamptonshire, a mere handful of metres above sea level. I feel it shows me as a "travelled man", and a "man of science". But my sense of satisfaction does not last, for a wave of panic quickly follows the wave of conceit. Can I remember, and state with confidence, by how much the atmospheric pressure reduced is in Mexico City, and how much lower is the boiling point of pure water than the familiar figure of 100.0ºC. 

In Mexico City I presumably walk more slowly than I do in Northamptonshire, or breath more rapidly; but how much more slower should I walk to avoid O2-deficit. 

I remember, a few years ago, looking it up on the web during an earlier visit, and writing a small table in my black book of worthy-but-easily-forgotten things (28th Jan 2019). I shall look it all up again, and make some calculation. Perhaps that will fix it.

Feet above
sea level

Metres above
sea level

Oxygen as %
(v/v) of air

Air Pressure 
(mm of Hg)

Air Pressure
(bar)

Boiling point
pure water ºC

0

0

20.9

760

!.000

100.00

 

100

 

 

0.990

 

1000

305

 

733

0.965

99.0

2000

610

 

707

0.9303

98.0

3000

914

 

681

0.896

 

4000

1219

 

656

0.863

 

6000

1829

 

609

0.801

94.0

8000

2438

 

564

0.742

91.9

10,000

3048

 

523

0.688

89.8

CDMX

2249.21

 

578

0.7603

92.55

 

I have interpoated (linearly) between 1829 m and 2438 m to find the standard pressure and boiling point of  water at 2249.21 m (the altitude of Mexico City). I conclude that I have to walk 24% more slowly in Mexico city, or pant gently, taking 16 breaths per minute instead of the standard 12.  

How much longer I should boil an egg is a complex matter, and is more easily solved by trial and error.

 

No comments: