Atmospheric column mass
= Atmospheric column mass
{title2=$m=p_s/g$}
The <mass> per unit horizontal area above a level in an <atmosphere>. With constant <gravitational acceleration>, <hydrostatic balance> gives $m=(p_s-p_{\rm top})/g$. This relation connects an observed surface <pressure> to the total reservoir <mass> without assuming an isothermal <temperature> profile.