1. Skew-T Description

Lines on the skew-T Isobars

Isobars on a skew-T

The nearly horizontal lines are isobars, spaced logarithmically from about 1050 hPa at the bottom to 100 hPa at the top.  They are plotted every 50 hPa.

On paper versions of the skew-T/log-P diagram, the ICAO standard atmosphere heights are printed under selected isobars on the right hand side of the diagram in feet (in parentheses) and meters [in brackets]. There is also a height scale to the right of the diagram.

The link below (which opens in a new window) goes to a table that provides a mapping from standard pressure values to height assuming an ICAO standard atmosphere:

Table of pressure vs. height in a standard atmosphere