what does an altimeter measure?

Question

height or altitude

Answer 1

Altimeter –noun
1. a sensitive device used chiefly for finding distance above sea level, terrain, or some other reference point by a comparison of air pressures or that operates by some other means, such as radio waves.

An interesting article on the use of satellite altimeters to measure the ocean waves: http://topex.ucsd.edu/marine_grav/explore_grav.html

Answer 2

An altimeter is an active instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level. The measurement of altitude is called altimetry, which is related to the term bathymetry, the measurement of depth underwater.

Answer 3

Most altimeters still in common use measure air pressure, and display the readout in terms of feet above sea level. based on the assumption of linear change in pressure versus altitude. They need to be corrected for local atmospheric pressure (and sometimes ground elevation) to be accurate.

Radar altimeters measure height above ground, and need correction for local elevation to determine altitude.

Answer 4

Altitude above sea level at 0 degrees C and normal atmospheric pressure.

Answer 5

Dear asker: in case you didn't know: height and altitude are the same.

Answer 6

altitude

Answer 7

Height above sea level,they have to be calibrated at sea level.

Answer 8

altitude.