0
On average, temperature decreases with height in the troposphere. The troposphere is bounded by the earth's surface and the tropopause (located at about 150 millibars in the tropics and 300 mb at high latitudes). In the troposphere on any given day, there are various layers between the surface and the tropopause where the lapse rates are far from average (the average environmental lapse rate is near 6.5 degrees C/km). Rawinsonde weather balloons measure temperature as they rise (this is the plot of the environmental lapse rate). Under certain conditions, the lapse rate in the atmosphere (defined as the change in temperature with height) is much above or much below normal.
Still curious? Ask our experts.
Chat with our AI personalities
Devin
Lao
FranHumans think of themselves as living on the surface of the earth, which, of course, is true. However, what is less obvious and more difficult for people to visualize is that life exists at the bottom of an ocean of air (the atmosphere).
The atmosphere is held tightly against the planet by the pull of gravity from within the planet. Investigations have revealed, however, that the atmosphere is not a homogeneous and unchanging mixture of gases from the surface of the planet on out into space. Rather, the atmosphere exists in layers and the conditions of temperature and pressure within each layer are different from the layers below it or above it.
Add your answer:
Earn +20 pts
Which atmospheric layer has the greatest range of temperature?
The thermosphere has the greatest range of temperature, with temperatures increasing with altitude reaching up to thousands of degrees Fahrenheit due to absorption of solar radiation.
How does the temperature of the troposphere change as altitude increases?
In the troposphere, temperature generally decreases as altitude increases. This is due to the decreasing air pressure and the fact that the upper regions of the troposphere are cooler due to their distance from the Earth's surface.
The troposphere is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere. How does temperature change with altitude in the troposphere?
In the troposphere, temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude. This is because the troposphere is heated from the ground up by solar radiation, causing the lower layers to be warmer than the higher layers. This temperature decrease is known as the lapse rate.
What happens to temperature in the troposphere?
In the troposphere, temperature generally decreases with increasing altitude at a rate of around 6.5°C per kilometer due to the adiabatic cooling effect as air pressure decreases with height. This relationship is known as the environmental lapse rate and defines the temperature profile of the troposphere.
Which top portion of troposphere?
The top portion of the troposphere is known as the tropopause. It is characterized by a stable temperature gradient and acts as a boundary between the troposphere and the stratosphere above.
