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Altitude
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{{Short description|Height in relation to a specified reference point}} {{About||the usage in astronomy|Altitude angle|other uses|}} {{broader|Vertical position}} {{Distinguish|text=[[Attitude (disambiguation)|Attitude]]}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}} [[File:Altitude.svg|thumb|Altitude is a vertical measurement between a reference datum and an object.]] '''Altitude''' is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference [[datum (geodesy)|datum]] and a point or object. The exact definition and reference datum varies according to the context (e.g., aviation, geometry, geographical survey, sport, or atmospheric pressure). Although the term ''altitude'' is commonly used to mean the [[height above sea level]] of a location, in [[geography]] the term [[elevation]] is often preferred for this usage. In aviation, altitude is typically measured relative to mean sea level or above ground level to ensure safe navigation and flight operations. In geometry and geographical surveys, altitude helps create accurate topographic maps and understand the terrain's elevation. For high-altitude trekking and sports, knowing and adapting to altitude is vital for performance and safety. Higher altitudes mean reduced oxygen levels, which can lead to altitude sickness if proper acclimatization measures are not taken. Vertical distance measurements in the "down" direction are commonly referred to as ''[[depth (coordinate)|depth]]''.
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