#Whats my elevation at myaddress update#

This is also referred to as “height above mean sea level”. The geoid is purely hypothetical though, but it is used as a reference for land surveyors to determine elevation based on what the sea-level would have been for a given point on Earth without land. It is the shape that the Earth’s surface would take if it were all one big ocean without winds or tides. If we were to hypothetically subtract winds, tides and other external forces that alter bodies of water we would be left with something known as the geoid. These irregularities and variations in the earth’s surface determine the acceleration of gravity, which vicariously creates the shape of the earth’s liquids. But the reality is that the surface of the earth is rather corrugated, rugged and irregular. When we look at representations of the earth we typically see a perfectly circular sphere. You can then use GPS to fetch the value elevation reading in the DEM. Satellite data from NASA and other public agencies can be combined to create what is called a DEM or Digital Elevation Model which is a detailed list of elevation values for points on the Earth’s surface. In areas with poor GPS reception an altimeter can be more accurate than GPS-based elevation readings and do not require an Internet connection. Modern smartphones contain a barometer that can be used as an altimeter to measure elevation or to calculate the number of steps you have climbed. The bellows then give you an accurate reading of your height above sea level regardless of whether you are on the ground, in a tree, or in an airplane. As you travel upwards, the pressure decreases which causes the bellows inside the barometer to expand. Inside of an altimeter is a barometer which is a device that measures pressure in the air. Altitude is measured with an altimeter by calculating differences in atmospheric pressure. How is elevation calculated? Using an AltimeterĪn altimeter is an instrument used to measure altitude. While elevation is often the preferred term for the height of your current location, altitude and height above sea level are also common. Altitude is a measurement of an object’s height, often referring to your height above the ground (such as in an airplane or a satellite).

Elevation typically refers to the height of a point on the earth’s surface, and not in the air. What is elevation?Įlevation is a measurement of height above sea level. From a computer your elevation is loaded from our API based on your location. It will even work when your phone is offline.

#Whats my elevation at myaddress update#

When viewed from a phone that supports altitude readings, the reading will come directly from your device altitude reading and will update automatically as you move. This site was designed to help you find the height above sea level of your current location, or any point on Earth.