Hurricane Wilma of 2005 is the most intense hurricane on record in the Atlantic basin, with a low-pressure reading of 882 mbar (millibars). Convert this reading into (a) atmospheres.

Key Concepts

Pressure Units

Pressure is a measure of force applied per unit area and can be expressed in various units, including millibars (mbar) and atmospheres (atm). One atmosphere is defined as 1013.25 mbar, which serves as a standard reference for atmospheric pressure at sea level.

Unit Conversion

Unit conversion involves changing a measurement from one unit to another while maintaining the same quantity. To convert from millibars to atmospheres, one must use the conversion factor that relates the two units, specifically that 1 atm equals 1013.25 mbar.

Scientific Notation

Scientific notation is a way of expressing numbers that are too large or too small in a compact form. It is often used in scientific contexts to simplify calculations and comparisons, especially when dealing with measurements like pressure, which can vary widely.