What commonly happens to atmospheric pressure as elevation increases?

As elevation increases, atmospheric pressure decreases due to the thinner air at higher altitudes. This phenomenon occurs because the weight of the air above decreases as you ascend, resulting in less pressure exerted on the surface below. At sea level, the atmosphere is denser, and thus the pressure is higher. As you move upwards in elevation, the particles in the atmosphere are less densely packed, leading to a reduction in air pressure. This decrease is a fundamental concept in meteorology and is critical for various fields including surveying, where understanding atmospheric pressure is vital for making accurate measurements and calculations related to elevation and topography.