Naked Science Forum

Life Sciences => The Environment => Topic started by: Lewis Thomson on 07/02/2022 11:00:26

Title: If hot air rises, why are the tops of mountains cold?
Post by: Lewis Thomson on 07/02/2022 11:00:26

Wayne would like to know the answer to this question.

"We've always learned that heat rises. Why is it usually colder in the mountains? Shouldn't their higher elevation make them warmer?"

What do you think? Leave your answers in the comments below...

Title: Re: If hot air rises, why are the tops of mountains cold?
Post by: Eternal Student on 07/02/2022 14:43:04

Hi.

    That is a good question and shows a good level of thinking and reasoning.   Well done.

As it happens almost exactly this question was answered in a Nakedscientist podcast quite recently.   You can either listen to the original audio or else there is a complete printed transcript of what was said.     Here is the link:

https://www.thenakedscientists.com/articles/questions/qotw-why-it-cold-mountains

Best Wishes.