Hydrostatic equilibrium

{
  "id": "MLC-T-MET-006354",
  "term": "Hydrostatic equilibrium",
  "field": "Meteorology and atmospheric science",
  "definition": "A condition in a fluid where the forces of gravity and pressure are in perfect balance, resulting in no net vertical motion. In the atmosphere, this means the upward pressure gradient force precisely counteracts the downward gravitational force on an air parcel. This equilibrium is a key assumption in many atmospheric models and is generally valid for large-scale atmospheric flows.",
  "see_also": [
    "parcel method",
    "slice method",
    "quasi-hydrostatic approximation"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/meteorology/hydrostatic-equilibrium/"
}