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Pressure is force magnitude applied over an area.Overburden pressure is a geology term that denotes the pressure caused by theweight of the overlying layers of material at a specific depth under the earth's surface.^[1]Overburden pressure is also calledlithostatic pressure, orvertical stress.^[2]

In astratigraphic layer that is inhydrostatic equilibrium; the overburden pressure at a depth z, assuming the magnitude of the gravity acceleration is approximately constant, is given by:

${\displaystyle P(z)=P_0+g{\int }_0^z\rho (z)dz}$^[2]

where:

• ${\displaystyle z}$ is the depth inmeters.
• ${\displaystyle P(z)}$ is the overburden pressure at depth${\displaystyle z}$.
• ${\displaystyle P_0}$ is thepressure at the surface.
• ${\displaystyle \rho (z)}$ is thedensity of the material above the depth${\displaystyle z}$.
• ${\displaystyle g}$ is thegravity acceleration in${\displaystyle m/s^2}$.

In deep-earth geophysics/geodynamics, gravitational acceleration varies significantly over depth and${\displaystyle g}$ should not be assumed to be constant, and should be inside the integral.

Some sections of stratigraphic layers can be sealed or isolated. These changes create areas where there is not static equilibrium. A location in the layer is said to be in under pressure when the local pressure is less than the hydrostatic pressure, and in overpressure when the local pressure is greater than the hydrostatic pressure.^[2]

• Effective stress
• Lateral earth pressure
• Pore water pressure
• Sedimentary rock

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