How does elevation affect air pressure and boiling points?
Quick Answer: As elevation increases, air pressure drops, causing water to boil at lower temperatures. This means at higher altitudes, water boils below 100°C (212°F), affecting cooking and other processes that depend on boiling points.
Air pressure is the weight of the air above you. When you're higher up, there’s less air pressing down. This lower pressure means liquids don’t need as much heat to turn into vapor, so they boil sooner.
For example, at sea level, water boils at 100°C. But at 2,000 meters (about 6,600 feet), boiling happens around 93°C. This difference can change cooking times and outcomes, especially for recipes relying on boiling or steaming.