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For a complete answer, see:
http://www.highaltitudebaking.com/science.htm
or order the book:
Pie in the Sky, by Susan Purdy The short answer is that at high altitudes: (1) Water evaporates more quickly because water boils (ie turns into steam) at a lower temperature, and (2) Anything involving air, like leavening (rising), behaves differently at altitude because there is less air and lower air pressure. You add extra water because... During the baking process, which means warming from room temperature to final baking temperature, more water will leave (steam off) a high-altitude cake. The extra water compensates for this. You add extra flour because... The lower air pressure will cause the cake to rise too much and too quickly, and can also cause the cake to "fall" afterward. I believe the extra flour slows the rising process. Ideally you would "take out" some of the leavening, but in a boxed mix you can't do that, so by increasing the flour you cause roughly the same effect (reduce the leavening-to-flour ratio). For lots of good data about this see:
http://www.highaltitudebaking.com/science.htm
Lower air pressure at high elevations causes air bubbles trapped in the batter to rise at a faster rate. When this happens, cakes rise very fast and high . . . then fall. As a result, you end up with a dense, dry cake--typically, a change in the proportion of ingredients used in leavened foods is needed. Occasionally, you may even need to adjust the baking temperature in your oven as well, but this can start a chain reaction of additional problems. When you increase your baking temperature, liquids will evaporate faster and the rest of the ingredients become concentrated. Generally, this means you end up with too much sugar in the batter, which will prevent the cake from setting (i.e. you will be left with a gooey mess).
Good question. It is because of atmospheric pressure, the air is less dense at higher elevations so time increases at a given temperature. Water boils at 212° F. sea level but boils at a lower temperature the higher you go in elevation, the air is less dense, hence the water molecules (H2O) are spaced further apart and require less energy to reach the gaseous state.
A related thing is that recipes (particularly baked goods) require additional liquid because their massis less.
Want to talk about mass, weight, and volume?
;-)
Higher elevations contain different pressures (particularly air pressure) than at sea-level. There are also some temperature differences that may occur. Both of these would change the bake time of cakes.
because at higher elevations there is less pressure and sea level has more pressure
No. Usually commercial recipes are written with sea level in mind but if you are above sea level 4,500ft or more you need to consider a longer cooking time
Cakes are baked where ever people live and wish to eat cake, including at high altitudes.
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Can weather satellites determine temperatures at different altitudes?
True
What causes differences in air temperatures at different altitudes?
Differences in air temperatures at different altitudes are primarily caused by the way the atmosphere absorbs and retains heat from the sun. As you increase in altitude, the air pressure decreases, causing the air to expand and cool. This results in lower temperatures at higher altitudes compared to lower altitudes.
In general what true about places at higher altitudes?
They have cooler temperatures than places at lower altitudes.
What are the cooking times for baking pies at different oven temperatures?
1oo degrees 1oo degrees
Why aren't the temperatures the same on the earth's Equator?
differing altitudes
Why is there more clouds at higher altitudes?
high altitudes indicate cold temperatures so then that means that water vapor condenses at cooler temperatures and when water vapor condenses then it creates clouds
In general what is true about places at higher altitudes?
Places at higher altitudes tend to have cooler temperatures than places at lower altitudes due to decreased atmospheric pressure. Oxygen levels are also lower at higher altitudes, which can lead to symptoms of altitude sickness in individuals not acclimated to the elevation. Additionally, higher altitudes often offer stunning panoramic views of surrounding landscapes.
What is a sentence for the word altitudes?
Cloud structures vary at different altitudes due to different levels of air pressure. There are several scientifically recognized altitudes of atmosphere.
HOW two locations at the same latitude but different altitudes can have a different climate?
Ocean and air currents.This is because latitude is only part of what determines a climate.
Do you have to bake at a lower temperature at sea level?
No, there is no need to alter normal baking methods at sea level. Special considerations are needed at high altitudes, not low altitudes.
Does the molecular formula change at different altitudes?
No.
Why do cirrus clouds form only at higher altitudes?
Cirrus clouds form at higher altitudes because they are composed of ice crystals that require cold temperatures to exist. These clouds typically form in the upper troposphere where temperatures are low enough for the ice crystals to form and remain suspended in the air.
