Hight-to-low refers BOTH to pressure and temperature, actually. An increase
in temperature causes an increase in pressure as air molecules now move
faster.

Pressure and temperature act in the same direction in terms of alimeter
settings, but work in the opposite directions in terms of aircraft
performance.

-- City Dweller

"George Patterson" wrote in message
news:rXUcf.5372$P.3083@trndny03...
wrote:

now decrease the temperature of the air surrounding the altimeter, and
since the colder air gets the more dense it gets, the atmospheric
pressure goes up. the altimeter doesnt know this. all it sees is an
increase in pressure, which it thinks means an decrease in altitude, so
it indicates say "-10 feet". this is directly contrary to the "high to
low look out below" because the altimeter is telling you you are 10
feet lower than you are, which is not what that saying is implying.

No, it's not contrary. The "high to low" means a flight from an area of
high pressure to low pressure, not high temperature to low temperature.
When you decreased the temperature, you increased the pressure, which
means you're going from low to high.

George Patterson
Drink is the curse of the land. It makes you quarrel with your
neighbor.
It makes you shoot at your landlord. And it makes you miss him.