Question

Which statement explains what happens to air temperature as elevation increases and why?

A) As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools.
B) As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises.
C) As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools.
D) As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises.

Answer 1

C) As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools.

Explanation: Higher elevations have less overlying air so pressure and density fall. Rising air expands in the lower pressure, does work on its surroundings, and loses internal energy — its molecules move more slowly, so temperature drops (the adiabatic cooling that produces the tropospheric lapse rate).