This page shows an interactive Java applet to learn how the gas properties of the atmosphere change by varying the altitude. This is an interactive program in which you can investigate changes in the atmosphere. It uses mathematical models of the standard atmosphere of the Earth and Mars. You can find the equations for the standard Earth atmosphere at other web sites in both English units and metric units .
Similar information is available on the Martian atmosphere .
The pressure , temperature , and density of the atmosphere constantly change. At any one time there are great variations in the properties of the atmosphere, depending on location around the planet and height above the surface of the planet. The mathematical models used in this simulator show an average variation of properties of the atmosphere at various heights, but not at various locations. The simulator will not predict the temperature or pressure at any single location at any time. But it will help us understand the relations among the values of a given variable at different heights.