Systems and methods provide altitude-dependent fan control for a plurality of electronic subsystems using a shared air pressure sensor. Each server or multi-server chassis of a rack system is a subsystem of the rack system. Each subsystem receives its own on-board fan or blower module. The shared air pressure sensor senses air pressure and outputs a signal to all of the subsystems. Each subsystem then independently regulates its own fan speed according to the signal output by the shared air pressure sensor. Other fan operational parameters, such as the number of fans recruited, may also be controlled according to altitude according to the invention. A variety of other performance parameters, such as internal air or component temperature, ambient air temperature, server workload, and processor activity level, may also be factored into control of these fan operational parameters.