When it is very hot in some areas there is still snow on the high mountain tops. But since the mountain is closer to the sun than the ground is, wouldn't the snow melt? Why does snow still exist there?
2006-07-01 08:48:09 · 15 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
Temperature reduces with every kilometre of altitude...you can see this when you fly in an aircraft with a read out for external temperature? Therefore, if it is below freezing, and there is moisture around...it will be white and baltic!!!!
2006-07-01 08:55:41 · answer #1 · answered by Quietman 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Since the top of a mountain is closer to the sun than the base is, you would think the peak is warmer, right? Actually, the top is the mountain's coldest spot. Here's why: The dense air at the base easily traps the sun's rays. But the thinner atmosphere near the peak traps less heat and gets colder the higher you go up. Above a certain point, called the snow line, the snow never melts. So, when it comes to mountains, snow doesn't always mean wintertime.
2006-07-01 16:34:54 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
It has nothing to do with the sun. A mountain top may seem closer to the sun but if you take into account the actual distance between earth and sun it makes no difference. The higher you get, the colder it is and the air becomes thinner too and doesn't heat up much.
2006-07-01 15:53:17 · answer #3 · answered by Courage 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's called Tundra Condition, and is evident all over Colorado. Even with the sun burning down on the mountains, the altitude and temperature don't allow the snow to melt.
2006-07-01 15:51:21 · answer #4 · answered by jedilogic 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your kidding right? Don't know about the Tundra condition, but forget about being closer to the SUN. High altitude = Colder air.
I suppose you could also argue why the center of the earth is hot with magma, when its further away from the sun.
2006-07-01 16:04:39 · answer #5 · answered by ocram 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The higher you go up in the atmosphere the colder it gets. Eventually if you get high enough you get to a layer of the atmosphere that is hot, but this layer is much higher then the mountain tops are.
2006-07-01 16:04:07 · answer #6 · answered by Leo 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the higher altitude the montain is the colder it is so if it is below freezing there would be snow and not all heat comes from the sun most of it comes from the earths core but when the sun is far enogh away not all the heat of the sun hits the earth because of the tilt of the earth so winter comes
2006-07-01 15:56:18 · answer #7 · answered by cow go tph 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it's colder on a mountain. I was hiking in Montana in June, and even though the weather was very hot on the bottom, when I climbed to the top there was snow and a frozen lake! it was weird.
2006-07-01 15:52:32 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
More height = thinner atmosphere = colder temperatures = the possibility of snow!
I live in Cumbria and the weather forecaster ALWAYS gives the freezing height - at the moment it's "well above the fell tops".....thank God; it is July after all!!!
2006-07-02 18:40:50 · answer #9 · answered by franja 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The higher the elevation the COLDER the AIR temp. When the air temp is below 36 degrees you stop having rain and start having SNOW>.
2006-07-01 15:53:11 · answer #10 · answered by Eagle 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
cuz the air is really cold at high altitudes, so snow doesn't melt on the top of high mountains even though it is hot at low altitudes.
2006-07-01 15:51:55 · answer #11 · answered by c_c_runner88 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋