How does temperature change with increasing altitude?

As altitude increases in the troposphere, which is the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere, the temperature generally decreases. This trend is significant for understanding various meteorological phenomena and flight operations.

The decrease in temperature with altitude is primarily due to the decrease in atmospheric pressure and the resulting lower density of air. As you ascend, the air expands because of the lower pressure, which leads to a drop in temperature. This principle is also related to the concept of adiabatic cooling, where rising air expands and cools.

In general, this pattern continues up to the tropopause, the boundary layer between the troposphere and the stratosphere, where the temperature levels out and may even begin to increase in some cases due to the presence of ozone in the stratosphere that absorbs solar radiation. Understanding this decrease in temperature is crucial for meteorologists and aviators to forecast weather patterns and to ensure safe flight operations.