1981
Question of the Week / Re: QotW - 21.07.06 - Why is it cold up mountains?
« on: 06/07/2021 15:46:57 »
Air temperature in the Troposphere( the lowest atmospheric layer), is driven by being heated by the ground, which was, in turn heated by the Sun. Higher altitudes, being further from the ground are heated less by this effect. Now while it is true that air near a mountain is close to the ground of the Mountain, that air is always being mixed with air that comes from the much larger regions where air at that altitude is much further from the ground.
As far as heat rising goes. Yes, warmer air, in general, will rise in colder air, But in doing so, it has to climb against gravity, and it can't do this for free, it has to give up some of its heat energy in doing so. So even warm air rising from the surface will not be as warm at altitude as it was near sea level.
As far as heat rising goes. Yes, warmer air, in general, will rise in colder air, But in doing so, it has to climb against gravity, and it can't do this for free, it has to give up some of its heat energy in doing so. So even warm air rising from the surface will not be as warm at altitude as it was near sea level.
The following users thanked this post: Zer0