AP BIOLOGY

Detailed explanation-1: -Temperature increases as you gain altitude in the stratosphere and the thermosphere. Temperature decreases as you gain altitude in the troposphere and mesosphere. Air temperature varies in complicated ways with altitude.

Detailed explanation-2: -As we increase elevation, there is less air above us thus the pressure decreases. As the pressure decreases, air molecules spread out further (i.e. air expands) and the temperature decreases.

Detailed explanation-3: -Atmospheric pressure is simply the weight of the air pushing down on you from above. As you increase in elevation, there is less air above you thus the pressure decreases.

Detailed explanation-4: -The lapse rate is the rate at which an atmospheric variable, normally temperature in Earth’s atmosphere, falls with altitude. Lapse rate arises from the word lapse, in the sense of a gradual fall. In dry air, the adiabatic lapse rate is 9.8 °C/km (5.4 °F per 1, 000 ft).