Convert Technical atmosphere to Decibar

The Technical Atmosphere (symbol: at) is a unit of pressure that is not part of the International System of Units (SI) but is still used in some contexts, particularly in engineering. It represents the pressure exerted by a 1-kilogram force over an area of 1 square centimeter.

1. Defined Value:

   • 1 technical atmosphere (at) is defined as 98,066.5 pascals (Pa), which is equivalent to 98.0665 kilopascals (kPa) or approximately 0.9678 Standard Atmospheres (atm).

2. Basis of Definition:

   • The technical atmosphere is based on the idea of the force exerted by gravity on a mass of 1 kilogram over a specific area. Specifically, it considers a standard gravitational acceleration of 9.80665 meters per second squared (m/s²).

3. Usage:

   • The technical atmosphere is sometimes used in engineering fields, particularly in Europe, for expressing pressures in contexts like hydraulics, pneumatics, and other areas involving mechanical forces.
   • Although less common today, it might still be encountered in older documents, manuals, or in industries where legacy systems or traditional units are in use.

4. Comparison with Other Units:

   • The technical atmosphere is slightly less than the Pressure Standard Atmosphere (1 atm), which is 101,325 pascals. This means that 1 at is about 96.78% of 1 atm.
   • It’s important to note the distinction between the technical atmosphere and the standard atmosphere, as they represent slightly different pressure values.

5. Historical Context:

   • The technical atmosphere was more commonly used before the widespread adoption of the SI unit system, which uses the pascal (Pa) as the standard unit for pressure. As such, its use has declined in favor of SI units, but it remains relevant in certain specialized contexts.

In summary, the Technical Atmosphere (at) is a unit of pressure defined as the pressure exerted by a 1-kilogram force over an area of 1 square centimeter. Although not an SI unit, it has been used historically in engineering and is still encountered in some specialized applications.

The Pressure Decibar (symbol: dbar) is a unit of pressure in the metric system. It is commonly used in oceanography and other fields where moderate pressure ranges need to be measured.

1. Defined Value:

   • 1 decibar (dbar) is defined as 10,000 pascals (Pa). The prefix "deci-" means one-tenth, so a decibar is one-tenth of a bar.
   • This makes 1 decibar equal to 10 kilopascals (kPa) or 100 millibars (mb).

2. Relation to Other Units:

   • Bar: Since 1 decibar is one-tenth of a bar, it is useful for measuring pressures in a range where the bar might be too large a unit and the millibar too small.
   • Pascal (Pa): 1 decibar equals 10,000 pascals, making it suitable for intermediate pressure measurements.
   • Millibar (mb): 1 decibar equals 100 millibars, so it can be easily converted between these units. For example, 5 decibars is the same as 500 millibars.

3. Usage:

   • The decibar is widely used in oceanography to measure the pressure exerted by water at different depths. This is because the pressure increases by about 1 decibar for every meter of depth in seawater.
   • It is also used in other scientific and technical fields where it provides a convenient unit for measuring pressures that are moderate in scale, such as in certain types of pressure sensors and instruments.

4. Why It’s Important:

   • In oceanography, the decibar is particularly important because it provides a direct and convenient way to relate water pressure to depth. For example, knowing the pressure in decibars allows scientists to estimate the depth of water directly in meters.
   • The decibar offers a balance between the millibar and the bar, making it a practical unit for moderate pressures that are commonly encountered in natural and industrial processes.

5. Comparison with Other Units:

   • The decibar is larger than the millibar but smaller than the bar, making it ideal for applications where precise measurements are needed, but the values would be too cumbersome in millibars or too small in bars.

In summary, the Pressure Decibar is a unit of pressure equal to 10,000 pascals or 100 millibars. It is particularly useful in oceanography for measuring water pressure at different depths, as well as in other fields where moderate pressures need to be accurately measured.