For the lower portion of the atmosphere, increased elevation means decreased temperature.
Temperature decreases at a constant rate known as the Lapse Rate.
For every 1000 meters of altitude, temperature decreases 6.4°C.
This is only true for the lower atmosphere.
0-14 km
Lower atmosphere
- Contains most of the weather that affects us
- significant amounts of water
- abundant aerosols (fine liguid and solid particles)
approx. 14 km (varies in elevation with seasons)
Level at which temperature stops decresing with altitude and begins increasing
14 - 50 km
High altitude air mass - low water and dust content
Ozone layer is found in this layer
Mesosphere 50-85 km
Thermosphere 85-500 km
Exosphere >500 km
Increased elevation results in decreased air density
Normally as elevation increases, temperature decreases.
Near the surface a temperature inversion can occur where the temperature increases with increasing elevation.
In other words the air above the ground is warmer than air that is close to the ground.
This can occur when the ground loses radiation to the air or when the gound is colder than the air mass above it (ground is covered with snow and a warm air mass moves into the area)
Temperatures vary annually based on variations in the amount of insolation due to the axial tilt of the Earth and seasonal variations.
Coastal are generally cooler than inland areas and show a lower annual and daily variations in temperature
Four thermal properties of water and land explain why.
1) Penetration
2) Specific Heat
3) Convection
4) Evaporation
Coastal areas show a lower amount of variation in daily and annual temperature.
Inland areas show a greater amount of variation in both daily and annual temperatures.
