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No. It may be tempting to assume that the sun warms the outermost atmosphere more because it is closer to this layer. However, we know this is not the case. Anyone that has ever climbed to the peak of a mountain knows that things get colder as they make their ascent. Indeed, it is clearly evident that the atmosphere warms from the bottom up, not from the top down. But how is this possible when the sun is closer to the top of the atmosphere? To answer this question you need to know how the greenhouse effect works.

Greenhouse warming is the process that heats up planet atmospheres. Without gases like water, carbon dioxide, and methane our planet would be too cold to sustain life. The reason sunlight does not warm the upper portions of the atmosphere is because energy from visible light is barely absorbed by these greenhouse gases. Infrared heat is what greenhouse gasses are notorious for absorbing. Since infrared heat cannot travel through the vacuum of space, the upper atmosphere of our planet is not initially heated as a wave of solar radiation makes its way to our planet. The sunlight must first propagate through the atmosphere all the way to the earth's surface where it is absorbed. After being absorbed at the surface of earth, energy is released as infrared heat. As soon as the energy is emitted from the surface, it is collected in the lower 'greenhouse blanket'. A lesser amount of this energy reaches the upper atmosphere. Hence, the sun is indirectly responsible for warming our atmosphere; it is the surface of earth that actually does the warming.

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Related Questions

As altitude increases in the Troposphere does the temperature increase?

No, as altitude increases in the Troposphere, the temperature generally decreases. This is because the Troposphere is the layer of the Earth's atmosphere where weather occurs, and the temperature decreases with altitude due to the decrease in air pressure and thinning of the air molecules that can store heat.


Does the temperature increase or decrease with altitude in the thermoshpere?

The temperature increases like the stratosphere


Does the temperature in the troposphere increase as the altitude increases?

No, the temperature in the troposphere decreases as the altitude increases.


WHAT Is the difference between stratosphere and mesosphere?

The stratosphere's temperature increases as altitude increases. The mesosphere's temperature decreases as it's altitude increases. This is helpful


What is the relationship between temperature and altitude in the exosphere?

In the exosphere, temperature increases with altitude. This is because the particles in the exosphere are far apart, so there is no transfer of heat through conduction or convection. Instead, the few particles present gain energy from solar radiation, causing an increase in temperature as altitude increases.


In the troposphere which decreases as altitude increase?

Temperature decreases as altitude increases in the troposphere


Temperature vs elevation?

As the altitude or elevation increases the temperature decreases. The temperature drops about 6.5 degree Celsius for every I km increase.


What does the temperature do as you increase in altitude?

Temperature decreases as altitude increases because there are less molecules in the atmosphere to hold in the heat.


Does temperature go down as altitude increases?

Yes, on average, temperature decreases by 6.5°C per kilometer as altitude increases in the troposphere. This is known as the normal lapse rate. However, in some regions, temperature inversions can cause temperatures to increase with altitude.


Is temperature increases as altitude increases because you are moving closer to the sun?

No, temperature does not increase with altitude because you are moving closer to the sun. In the Earth's atmosphere, temperature generally decreases with altitude in the troposphere due to the decreasing pressure and density of air. The sun's heat primarily warms the Earth's surface, and as you go higher, there is less air to retain that heat. However, temperature can increase with altitude in the stratosphere due to the absorption of ultraviolet radiation by the ozone layer.


When altitude increases temperature does what?

Temperature decreases as altitude increases.


Does temperature increase or decrease with altitude in the mesosphere?

Temperature decreases with altitude in the mesosphere due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure with height. This is because the mesosphere is above the stratosphere where the ozone layer absorbs incoming solar radiation, leading to a decrease in temperature as altitude increases.