What term describes the pressure due to the weight of the atmosphere, which decreases as elevation increases?

The term that describes the pressure due to the weight of the atmosphere, which decreases as elevation increases, is barometric pressure. This pressure is specifically the pressure exerted by the atmosphere at a given point, and it is measured with a barometer. As altitude increases, there is less atmospheric mass above a surface compared to a lower elevation, which results in a decrease in barometric pressure.

In contrast, hydrostatic pressure is related to the pressure exerted by a fluid at rest due to the weight of the fluid above it and is not tied to atmospheric conditions specifically. Vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted by the vapor of a liquid in a closed system at equilibrium and does not pertain to atmospheric pressure. Surface pressure can be a more general term that may not specifically indicate atmospheric conditions and does not consistently describe the variation with elevation.

Thus, the definition and behavior of barometric pressure align precisely with the characteristics described in the question.