Brandy has built a computer model of a weather system. She has included information about bodies of water, the Sun, and the atmosphere. Brandy records the average daily temperature of a continental city that is at sea level (City A). She then records the noontime temperature of a continental city at the same latitude but at a greater elevation (City B).

Question

If all other factors in her model are the same for both cities,
A.
City B will have a higher temperature overall than City A.
B.
It will always rain in City B but never in City A.
C.
City A will have a higher temperature overall than City B.
D.
It will always rain in City A but never in City B.

Answer 1

The correct answer is:

C. City A will have a higher temperature overall than City B.

Generally, as elevation increases, temperature tends to decrease due to the thinner atmosphere at higher altitudes, which has less ability to hold heat. Therefore, if all other factors are the same, the city at sea level (City A) will have a higher average temperature than the city at a greater elevation (City B).