Measurement of Atmospheric Pressure Variation with Altitude in the Jos Plateau Region

Atmospheric pressure decreases with increasing altitude following a well-established exponential relationship described by the barometric formula. The Jos Plateau in Plateau State, North Central Nigeria, offers a unique natural laboratory for studying this relationship due to its significant altitude variations ranging from approximately 700 m to over 1,780 m above sea level within a relatively small geographic area. This study measures atmospheric pressure at twelve stations across varying elevations on the Jos Plateau using calibrated digital barometers and cross-validates measurements with GPS-confirmed altitudes. Measurements were conducted during the dry season to minimize confounding effects of moisture on atmospheric density. The scale height of the atmosphere derived from the local dataset was compared with the standard atmospheric model value of 8,500 m. The study also investigates the diurnal variation of atmospheric pressure at three permanent monitoring stations installed at different elevation levels to characterize local pressure cycles driven by thermal convection patterns. Results indicate good agreement between measured pressure-altitude profiles and the standard barometric formula below 1,500 m, with increasing deviations at higher elevations attributed to local temperature anomalies unique to the plateau environment. The study contributes original measurement data to the atmospheric physics literature for elevated terrain in sub-Saharan Africa and provides reference values for aviation, agricultural, and meteorological applications in the region. Keywords: atmospheric pressure, altitude, Jos Plateau, barometric formula, atmospheric physics