The height of a given point relative to sea-level, obtained by dividing the geopotential by a constant. See Appendix D.
The height above sea level of a pressure level. For example, if a station reports that the 500 mb height at its location is 5600 m, it means that the level of the atmosphere over that station at which the atmospheric pressure is 500 mb is 5600 meters above sea level. This is an estimated height based on temperature and pressure data.
The altitude of a layer in the atmosphere. It is expressed in geopotential meters and is equal to g/9,8 times the geopotential height expressed in (geometric) meters, g being the local acceleration of gravity. It is used to define isobaric surfaces on upper level charts. Reason for using geopotential meters instead of meters is to compare heights in geographical context, without the effect of gravity, thus imitating a perfect round earth.
The height of a given point in the atmosphere in units proportional to the potential energy of unit mass ( geopotential) at this height relative to sea level. The relation, in SI units, between the geopotential height and the geometric height is where is the acceleration of gravity, so that the two heights are numerically interchangeable for most meteorological purposes. Also, one geopotential meter is equal to 0.98 dynamic meter. See dynamic height.
Geopotential height is a vertical coordinate referenced to Earth's mean sea level — an adjustment to geometric height (elevation above mean sea level) using the variation of gravity with latitude and elevation. Thus it can be considered a "gravity-adjusted height." One usually speaks of the geopotential height of a certain pressure level, which would correspond to the geopotential height necessary to reach the given pressure.