Altimeter settings (aka QNH) are referenced to mean sea level.  It has nothing 
to do with GPS altitude.  If a properly set and calibrated barometric altimeter 
agrees with a GPS it is just a coincidence, some might say a rare coincidence.

Regards,

Garry Lockyer
C: +1.250.689.0686
E: [email protected]


> On Dec 24, 2020, at 11:06, [email protected] wrote:
> 
> I am nerding out calibrating my barometer today.  I have a handheld 
> precision barometer that I can take co a vertical survey marker close to a 
> nearby major airport.  I can then call the automated message at the tower and 
> get real time AS (altimeter settings) from the airport barometer.  I just am 
> not sure what height these AS settings are referenced to.  There are two 
> listed in the marker's datasheet.  Ortho and Ellipsoid.  Ortho is based on 
> spirit leveling and a better reference to a hypothetical equipotential 
> surface that is tied to one tide station in Quebec (NAVD88) or the GPS 
> measured Ellipsoid (a simple oblate sphere that is supposed to approximate 
> said equipotential surface).  The nice thing about doing this is that I can 
> precisely know the height of my WX station at home.  I know it within about 5 
> feet, but not certain until I take use an average over time of this AS from 
> the local airport.  I don't have a super expensive Surveyor GPS to determine 
> it.  I do have a surveyors tansit, but I am thinking doing a closed lip with 
> it from a local vertical control is way overkill even though this stuff is 
> fun to me :D
> 
> I hope there is someone that is into surveying nerdiness that can answer this 
> question.  If not, I will have to email the local skywarn contact 
> meteorologist and bug him.
> 
> Regards,
> 
> Chris Maness
> 
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