If the pressure altitude is at 5,000 ft and true air temperature is +30 °F, what is the approximate density altitude?

To determine the approximate density altitude given a pressure altitude of 5,000 feet and a true air temperature of +30 °F, it is important to understand the relationship between temperature, pressure altitude, and density altitude.

Density altitude is affected by both the pressure altitude and the temperature. As temperature increases above standard conditions, density altitude increases because warm air is less dense than cold air. In this case, 30 °F is significantly above the standard temperature for 5,000 feet, which is normally around 18 °F.

To calculate density altitude, you can use the following rough method. First, for every degree Fahrenheit that the actual temperature exceeds the standard temperature at that altitude (which is roughly 18 °F for 5,000 feet), you can adjust the density altitude upwards by approximately 120 feet.

At 5,000 feet, the standard temperature is approximately 18 °F. The actual temperature is 30 °F, resulting in a deviation of 12 °F above standard. Multiplying that temperature excess of 12 °F by 120 feet per degree gives you an increase in density altitude of approximately 1,440 feet (12 °F x 120 ft/°F = 1,440 ft