What defines the term 'pressure' in atmospheric science?

In atmospheric science, the term 'pressure' refers specifically to the weight of the air above a surface. This concept is vital as the atmosphere exerts pressure on everything below it due to the gravitational pull on air molecules. The pressure at a specific point is determined by the column of air above that point, which can vary based on altitude, temperature, and weather conditions. Understanding air pressure is crucial for interpreting weather patterns, as it influences wind, precipitation, and other meteorological phenomena.

The other options relate to important atmospheric properties but do not accurately define 'pressure.' Temperature refers to the thermal energy of the air, density describes how compact the air particles are, and humidity indicates the amount of water vapor in the air. While these factors intertwine with pressure (for example, temperature can influence air density and subsequently affect pressure), they do not define the term 'pressure' itself.