If the outside air temperature at a given altitude is warmer than standard, the density altitude is

• A. Higher than pressure altitude
• B. Lower than pressure altitude
• C. Equal to pressure altitude
• D. Unrelated to pressure altitude

Answer: (A)

Density altitude tells you the altitude in the standard atmosphere at which the air density would be the same as what you’re currently experiencing. When the outside air is warmer than standard, it becomes less dense. At the same geometric height, the air density is lower than standard, so you’d have to climb to a higher altitude to reach the standard density. That makes density altitude higher than the pressure altitude (which is based on pressure and isn’t directly changed by temperature). So in warm conditions, density altitude sits above pressure altitude. If it were cooler than standard, density altitude would be lower; it would only be equal when the temperature is exactly standard.