What type of pressure is indicated by a pressure gauge at a specific depth in a water column?

The pressure indicated by a gauge at a specific depth in a water column refers to gauge pressure. Gauge pressure is the pressure measurement relative to atmospheric pressure. When you have a pressure gauge submerged in a fluid, such as water, it displays the pressure exerted by the fluid alone, excluding the atmospheric pressure acting on the surface of the fluid.

Consequently, when measuring the pressure at a certain depth, the gauge pressure reflects the additional pressure contributed by the weight of the water column above that point. This pressure increases with depth due to the weight of the water, typically expressed in units such as pounds per square inch (psi) or pascals (Pa).

In contrast, absolute pressure accounts for both the atmospheric pressure and the pressure exerted by the water, while bearing pressure is not a standard term associated with the context of fluid pressure measurement. Vacuum pressure relates to pressures below atmospheric pressure and does not apply to the measurement of pressure within a water column. Therefore, gauge pressure is the correct term for the pressure indicated by a gauge at a specific depth in a water column.