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I am a little confused, is the QNH the current pressure at Sea Level? Therefore putting it into the altimeter will give your current altitude on the ground in pressure altitude relative to current sea level?

If not could someone please advise me on how to back calculate sea level pressure given the QNH and ground temperature.

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Yes the QNH value is based on the atmospheric pressure taken at the measurement site, then adjusted to represent that same atmospheric condition at seal level based on the normal expected pressure change between sea level and the measurement site, and at the standard temperature lapse rate. In other words, if the measurement site was 1000 ft above sea level physically, it's what the atmospheric pressure at the measurement site would be if you were to dig a 1000 ft deep pit at that spot and take the pressure measurement at the bottom of the pit which is physically at true sea level.

The adjustment is based on the lapse rate of the standard atmosphere, so an error is introduced in doing this adjustment if temperatures are significantly different from standard temperatures (59F at SL). Normally not a big deal because everybody in the vicinity is using the same "erroneous altitude", so no harm no foul, but in cold weather this has to be taken into account for IFR operations because the error (altitude reading higher than it really is when temperatures are below standard) becomes significant for the safety of IFR approach operations, and correction tables have to be used, generally when doing approaches in below freezing weather, where the potential high reading error starts to become dangerous in terms of obstacle clearance and decision altitudes.

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  • $\begingroup$ Thank you very much! $\endgroup$
    – Mikey Patterson
    Nov 10, 2020 at 22:49
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QNH Is the mean sea level pressure which is

Mean sea level (MSL) (often shortened to sea level) is an average level of the surface of one or more of Earth's bodies of water from which heights such as elevation may be measured
source: wikipedia

So yes, putting QNH into your altimeter gives you your altitude above mean sea level.

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  • $\begingroup$ If my memory serves me right, this is only exactly true if the temperature lapse rate follows the 1.98°C per 1000ft from the ISA. $\endgroup$
    – Bianfable
    Nov 10, 2020 at 12:16

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