Talk:High altitude

the intro to this is pretty confusing. First it states air pressure is low because of low temp and then a few lines later that the temp is low because of low air pressure. which is it? or are they complementary?

This article seems to overlap strongly with altitude sickness and has many fewer links to it. I propose to refactor this article, moving unique altitude sickness information into the other article (and possibly into related new articles, such as high altitude pulmonary edema).

There are other articles with information relevant to high altitude. For example, alpine climate. This article can point to those, also.

-- hike395 14:33, 3 Jul 2004 (UTC)

Sounds good to me. Also, there is no reference here to the effects on cooking. It sounds corny, but I suppose the only time many people know about "High Altitude" is that it changes their recipies. I was born and raised at over 10,000ft (3000m?), so I'm full of fun information about things up here. See my e2 writeup: [1] or the points below --Mdwyer 18:58, 19 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

I wanted to add a note about Secondary Polycythemia, but that's pretty much the same as "Decrease in plasma volume" and "Increased Hematocrit" stuck together, and it is mentioned in a see-also under Altitude sickness
Electronics are more likely to fail at high altitude due to cosmic radiation (IBM Journal of Research and Development, v40, No 1, Jan 1996). Errors are five times more likely in Boulder, Colorado (5000ft) than New York, and ten times more likely in Leadville. Lattitude also plays a part -- La Paz doesn't have as many errors even though it is at a similar altitude.

By 'errors', I assume you mean 'failures'? Error makes it sound like a bit gets flipped in a file, or the tv remote changes to the wrong channel, both of which seem unlikely.Moosesheppy (talk) 19:58, 5 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Because of the decreased density of the air, air-cooling isn't as efficient. I can't support this, but the math should be possible. Also, air-inductors (electronics) may change their values. Vacuum cleaners are not as effective. Internal combustion engines are less powerful.
Cooking a "Three Minute Egg" takes five minutes
You can't make a good cup of tea or coffee, because boiling water is too cold.
Supposedly, I have a larger than average heart and lungs because of my family's acclimation to altitude. I've never found anything to support that.
Babies have a lower than normal birthweight. I'm positive there have been studies about this, but I'd have to go find them.
The high school cross-country running team is nearly unbeatable -- the effects of altitude amount to blood doping.
It is rumoured that the local Frito Lay distributor punctures their potato chip bags to prevent them from exploding. I'm not sure if that is true, but I do know that they bags /will/ explode.

I did the refactor about 2 years ago, but your new information (suitably referenced) sounds interesting. Some of it may be under a "Trivia" section (e.g., potato chip bags)

The UC White Mountain Research Station (on White Mountain (California)) has a wealth of information about adaptation of mammals to high altitude. See, e.g., [2].

Thanks! -- hike395 14:21, 20 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Yeah, it is that "suitably referenced" that's going to be difficult. I think many of those points would be considered Original Research. I *do* have the IBM research doc, and I'm pretty sure the child birth studies are available. Almost everything else is trivia, though.

Maybe we can just start out with a number of sections? Definitions/summary, Effects on Physiology, Effects on Everyday Life (subbed to things on cooling, cosmic radiation, and cooking), followed by trivia? --Mdwyer 18:24, 21 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

Expanding beyond just the effects on humans would be good, although I tend to dislike having empty sections in an article. How about if you add information that you can reference, and leave the rest on this Talk page, so that others can add it when references are found? -- hike395 05:15, 22 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

disambiguation[edit]

high altitude also applies to flight, and is very different, so disambiguation is required --Mrg3105 07:22, 29 July 2007 (UTC)[reply]