- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-0.mp3
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-0.mp4
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-I.mp3
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-I.mp4
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-Unplugged-Underground-X.mp3
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-Unplugged-Underground-X.mp4
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-Unplugged.mp3
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-Unplugged.mp4
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-acoustic.mp3
- Getting-Low__The-Higher-I-Go-electric.mp3
[Verse 1]
The higher I go
(The pressure’s getting low)
… going low it gets high
(Why?)
Go and touch the sky
[Chorus]
It becomes clear
As you draw near
Thinning atmosphere
Until it disappears
[Bridge]
[Guitar Solo]
Reducing oxygen
(I can take in)
Soon to discover
All is boiling over
[Verse 2]
Change in altitude
(Changes one attitude)
… going high pressure’s low
(Did you know?)
Touch the sky
(Go!)
[Chorus]
It becomes clear
As you draw near
Thinning atmosphere
Until it disappears
[Bridge]
[Guitar Solo]
Reducing oxygen
(I can take in)
Soon to discover
All is boiling over
[Chorus]
It becomes clear
As you draw near
Thinning atmosphere
Until it disappears
[Outro]
[Flute Solo]
Reducing oxygen
(I can take in)
Soon to discover
All is boiling over
A SCIENCE NOTE
The atmosphere changes dramatically with altitude, influencing living conditions and the physical behavior of substances like water. Here’s how these changes unfold and their connection to pressure systems:
1. Atmospheric Pressure and Altitude
- Decrease in Pressure:
As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases because the density of air molecules reduces the higher you go. This happens because gravity pulls air molecules closer to the Earth’s surface, making the lower atmosphere denser. - Effects on Living Conditions:
- Oxygen Levels: With lower atmospheric pressure, the amount of oxygen available in the air decreases. This can lead to difficulty breathing, reduced physical performance, and conditions like altitude sickness at high elevations.
- Temperature: Temperature generally drops as you ascend, averaging about a 6.5°C (11.7°F) decrease per kilometer in the troposphere (the lowest layer of the atmosphere).
2. Boiling Water at High Altitudes
- Relationship to Pressure:
Boiling occurs when the vapor pressure of a liquid equals the surrounding atmospheric pressure. At high altitudes, where atmospheric pressure is lower, water boils at a temperature lower than 100°C (212°F). For instance:- At 2,000 meters (6,561 feet), water boils around 93°C (199°F).
- At 4,000 meters (13,123 feet), it boils at roughly 86°C (187°F).
- Implications:
- Cooking: Foods take longer to cook at higher altitudes because the boiling point is lower, reducing the energy available for cooking.
- Scientific Relevance: This principle is used to calibrate pressure altimeters and to study thermodynamic properties.
3. Low-Pressure and High-Pressure Systems
- Low-Pressure Systems:
- Associated with rising air, which cools and condenses into clouds and precipitation.
- Often linked to stormy or unsettled weather.
- At high altitudes, the lower atmospheric pressure in these systems exacerbates the already reduced oxygen levels.
- High-Pressure Systems:
- Characterized by sinking air, which warms as it compresses, leading to clearer skies and stable weather.
- These systems are denser and can provide slightly more oxygen at comparable elevations than low-pressure systems.
- Connection to Altitude:
At sea level, pressure systems primarily influence weather. However, at higher altitudes, their effects compound the existing challenges of low atmospheric pressure. For example, a low-pressure weather system at high elevation can make breathing even more difficult.
Conclusion
As altitude increases, the thinning atmosphere alters living conditions by reducing oxygen availability and lowering temperatures. It also lowers the boiling point of water, affecting cooking and other processes. Low- and high-pressure systems influence these conditions further, with low-pressure systems exacerbating the challenges of high-altitude environments. These dynamics illustrate the interconnectedness of atmospheric science and everyday experiences.