What happens to pressure as altitude increases?

As altitude increases, atmospheric pressure decreases. This phenomenon occurs because as you rise in elevation, there is less air above you. The weight of the air column decreases with altitude, leading to lower pressure. Atmospheric pressure at sea level is around 1013.25 hPa (hectopascals), but at higher altitudes, there is not enough air mass to exert the same force, resulting in a decrease in pressure. This principle is critical in various applications, such as aviation and meteorology, where understanding how atmospheric pressure changes with altitude is essential for safe operations and accurate weather forecasting.