paperdesk
Contributor
Either is correct, has the concept of atmospheres absolute been introduced? If it has, use ATA, if it hasn't, use ATM. .
We are talking about total pressure, though it doesn't go into great depth (lol) on the topic.
Ted
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Either is correct, has the concept of atmospheres absolute been introduced? If it has, use ATA, if it hasn't, use ATM. .
ATA is unambigous. It is atmospheres absolute.
ATM has some possiblity of confusion. Personally, when I use ATM I mean gauge pressure, with sea level atmosphere as the reference. In other words, at 33feet you have a pressure of 1ATM and 2ATA.
Not everybody uses that convention as the meaning of ATM, but everyone agrees that ATA is an absolute pressure, referenced to vacuum. If you use ATA you eliminate the confusion.
If it's a non-technical article geared towards non divers most of your readers will not understand the difference between ATA and ATM. I think ATM shold be used. If the majority of the readers are divers, there is the possibility that ATA will be understood.
Naturally, any abbreviation should be defined before being used...