❓ why
Why is it colder at the top of a mountain?
geographyclimate
Quick Answer
Air at higher altitudes has lower pressure, so it expands and cools, and there is less air to hold heat.
The Full Story
The Sun mainly heats the ground, which then warms the air above it. As air rises, pressure drops and the air expands, which makes it cool. On average, temperature falls by about 6.5 °C for every 1,000 metres of height. Thinner air at altitude also holds and traps less heat, so mountaintops stay cold even in sunshine.
Key Facts
1.Mount Kilimanjaro has glaciers despite being close to the equator.
2.The temperature drop with height is called the lapse rate.
3.Temperatures on Mount Everest's summit rarely rise above freezing.
YouTube Angle
Suggested video title for this topic:
"Closer to the Sun but Colder — Why Mountaintops Freeze"