EVERYDAY SCIENCE

Detailed explanation-1: -The basic answer is that the farther away you get from the earth, the thinner the atmosphere gets. The total heat content of a system is directly related to the amount of matter present, so it is cooler at higher elevations. The heating of the earth itself also plays a role.

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

Detailed explanation-3: -The temperature of a place decreases with increasing altitude from the earth’s surface. Since the direct source of atmospheric heat lies at the surface of the earth, the higher we ascend in the atmosphere, the lower the temperature is.

Detailed explanation-4: -Climate can be affected by mountains. Mountains receive more rainfall than low lying areas because as air is forced over the higher ground it cools, causing moist air to condense and fall out as rainfall. The higher the place is above sea level the colder it will be.