In thermosphere, the further you travel up towards the thermosphere you are likely to experience a decrease in temperature. What is the cause of that change in temperature as altitude increases?

Answer 1

The temperature decrease as altitude increases in the thermosphere is primarily due to the decrease in atmospheric density. The thermosphere is the outermost layer of the Earth's atmosphere and is characterized by extremely low densities of gas molecules. As you travel higher into the thermosphere, there are fewer gas molecules present to absorb and retain heat, resulting in a decrease in temperature. Additionally, the energy received from the Sun is more concentrated in the upper layers of the thermosphere, leading to higher temperatures in those regions.