Request To Find Fraction of Mass of Atmosphere Below Mount Everest

Question

If I am standing at the top of Mount Everest with a height 8848 meter so what fraction of mass of atmosphere is below me assuming that isothermal atmospheric temperature is 260K?

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Answer 1

Hi Akhtar R.,

That's a simple question, but not for the reason you might think. If you are standing on the top of Mt. Everest (as it is called in the West, though not locally!!) the material under you is solid rock. There is essentially no air in solid rock.

However, assuming that you were imprecise?, and really meant to inquire what proportional mass of the atmosphere was at an altitude less than yours, you still need some additional information. You could model the atmospheric pressure with altitude as an exponential decay function with altitude (above sea level) -- but you still need some reference point to derive the "rate constant". Either Everest pressure, or some other known altitude point. Then derive your "rate constant", and integrate the pressure vs. altitude function/d(altitude).

--Cheers, --Mr. d.