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Why are temperatures generally lower at higher altitudes?

Updated: 8/17/2019
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7y ago

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Multiple reasons. Higher up means farther away from the ground which reflects and radiates thermal energy from the sun. Also, the pressure is lower the higher you go. Less particles of air means less friction between particles, translates to lower temperatures.
In general that is the case. To really understand this you have to remember temperature is just a measure of average kinetic energy.

The higher up you go, the less stuff there is and movement in general. It is not possible to hold as much of the sun's energy. Standard lapse rate is about 3 degrees cooler every 1000 feet you climb.

Nothing up there is using heat or creating heat, because it's an environment devoid of life.

But as you come down, living creatures are constantly taking advantage of energy, expending heat, and it's getting trapped by physical barriers.

pressure of the air decreases as the altitude increases resulting the decrease of collision between particles in the air.
The decrease in temperature is a direct result of the decrease in air pressure. As you pull away from the Earth the gravity decreases on the air molecules. This allows the molecules to spread out and as they separate from each other the energy can no longer transfer as easily between them. As this happens the heat will always dissipate.

In general that is the case. To really understand this you have to remember temperature is just a measure of average kinetic energy. Standard lapse rate is about 3 degrees cooler every 1000 feet you climb.

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