0 What is height?

Height refers to the distance of an object point of a reference line or surface. It is a one-dimensional size and one of the three spatial dimensions that are specified in units of length (in meters).

For all physical objects on the Earth, the height is the perpendicular distance from a reference surface, so it requires a lot of direction. This applies to all bodies in a gravitational field, which provides a framework for top-down in the wider sense.

In General, the geometric height is the largest distance from a baseline (such as when the flat triangle) or a base, so the maximum of all normal distances of all points. The value is then called the total height of the object. This applies to a point, this is the tip of the object.

Example is the dimensions of an object in logistics, as well as the common parlance

This is also the Earth's surface as a reference consider (height above ground) for technical applications:

Buildings around the height of the building measured at a level point as the height of the building, and the Ridge height up to the top of the roof, to which reference is made in the building codes. Skyscrapers around, carrying in addition high antennas, height can be measured up to their top tip (structural height); see tallest building.

Altitude

Different height systems for the high altitude, which are based on different definitions of height and reference areas used in geodesy. This reference surface at mean sea level measured at a level are moored for the specification of terrain altitude (or elevation).

Therefore, the geosciences in absolute and relative height is different:

the absolute level is the "level above zero":

Height above sea level (m above NN, m a.s.l. A. m ü. M.) in relation to a surveying character set as the zero point. Because the systems of different countries relate nodes, and even different seas on different, a jump in the altitude is built on the borders.

In the higher Geodesy the ellipsoidal, dynamic, orthometrische, normal orthometric and the normal height in relation to a figure of the Earth; see height (Geodesy)

the relative height (terrain elevation) is the height above the ground, the physical height to which a geographical object dominates the environment

"The highest mountain in the world" generally as an example of the difference here, Mount Everest, which is with discretion 8,848 meters above sea level in absolute amount, but is relative height to the base of the mountain at the bottom of the deep sea this a Vulkan of Mauna Kea, a peak of the Massif, forming the island of Hawaii. In addition, there are further bases for the height (to the Earth's Center as an absolute amount in relation to a soil that is idealized as a ball) or prominence; see the highest mountain.

Other heights references

At altitudes is the height above ground with AGL (above ground level, height), the height above sea level MSL (mean sea level, altitude), and the height in relation to the FL as FL (flight level)

In the railway industry it is on Rails road at street level (middle layer edge)

Height is also the abbreviation for elevation angle (usually in degrees or radians), about the astronomical amount of a star above the mathematical horizon, or the pile (latitude).