How do you measure how far above sea level a mountain is?

Answer 1

With surveying equipment....frequently with the help of another already placed benchmark.

Answer 2

You could boil fresh water and take it's temperature with a good thermometer. Boiling point is 212 F at sea level, and as altitude ascends the boiling point decreases. At 5000' above msl boiling point is only 203 F, at 8000' it's only 197.4.

That's why beans never get done cooking up the mountain and your coffee doesn't taste like anything or burn your tongue.

Answer 3

use a benchmark? those people are idiots. You use the variable pressure relations. Ther pressure changes as altitude changes. Messure pressure at sea-level and compare with pressure at the top of a mountain. A differential equation can be solved to get the height.

Answer 4

they are measured from a known location by surveyors using angle and distance calculations ( trig )

these days they can also be measured using GPS satellite signals but the math is the same

the answer willow gave is just flat wrong due to variations in atmospheric pressure pressure barometers are not accurate enough for survey work ( they are used for flying but the ground pressure is updated by radio prior to landing ) radar and laser altimeters are very accurate but they just show the height above the ground not the altitude - they calculate it using the known ground elevation )

Answer 5

Using a Theodolite

Answer 6

from some fixed reference point that you know the altitude of. easier just use gps system

Answer 7

This has already been figured out for you.

http://www.globalmapper.com/index_data.html

Answer 8

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Altimeter

Answer 9

with an altimeter.