How would you determine altitude?

General Discussion
1

I just learned of this awesome way that John Fremont used to determine altitude using a thermometer.
How did he do it?
Hmmm, what’s the difference between altitude and elevation?

2

The boiling point of water changes at different levels of air pressure. If one gets Rocky Mountain high in the actual Rocky Mountains, water boils at a lower temperature there than it does at the air pressure at sea level.
Re: the difference between altitude and elevation, I suspect that would be good to know if one were a pilot flying over mountainous terrain.

3

4

It’s not like I’d ever given it much thought, but when I read about Fremont doing it, it was one of those OH WOW moments.
Simple straightforward, obvious as a 2x4 cracking you in the head - but I wonder if I’d been asked the question before hand how long it would have taken that light to go on.
It’s weird stuff like that I find fascinating.

5
Re: the difference between altitude and elevation, I suspect that would be good to know if one were a pilot flying over mountainous terrain.
Oh lordie, talk about pulling one's head out of where it don't shine. Must of been more tired than I thought when I wrote that. And me from the mountains, jeez luezz. Thanks for the polite hint. :shut: