mbar, or millibar, is a unit of pressure measurement that is commonly used in meteorology and various scientific applications. It is equivalent to 100 pascals (Pa), and it is often used to express atmospheric pressure.
The term ‘millibar’ is derived from the metric system, where ‘milli’ denotes one-thousandth. Thus, 1 mbar equals 0.001 bar, and since 1 bar is roughly equal to atmospheric pressure at sea level, 1013.25 mbar is considered standard atmospheric pressure.
In practice, mbar pressure readings are commonly seen in weather reports and are crucial for understanding weather patterns, such as the formation of high and low-pressure systems. A decrease in mbar values typically indicates a low-pressure area, which is associated with stormy weather, while an increase signals high-pressure conditions, often leading to clearer skies.