2. Basic hydrological data

2.1 Pressure

The unit of pressure in the international system is the pascal (Pa), which corresponds to a force of 1 newton.m ^–2 . In oceanography, we always use the bar, or its sub-multiple the decibar (atmospheric pressure is roughly 1 bar, while the hydrostatic pressure of a 1 m column of water is roughly 1 decibar).

1 bar = 10 ⁵ Pa and 1 dbar = 10 ⁴ Pa

Before using the calculation...