why is the temperature generally lower at higher altitude than lower altitude for the same lattitude?

Question

for example a mountain top is cooler than the botton

Answer 1

It's because the thinner atmosphere at the higher altitude holds less heat. The atmosphere and its greenhouse effect is the reason why the night side of the Earth is not frozen, because the atmosphere holds infrared radiation given off by the Earth after it is irradiated by the sun. But at altitudes where the atmosphere is thinner, it is able to hold less of that warmth.

Answer 2

It's a rule of physics. Relative temperature drops approximately 10º Fahrenheit for every 1000 feet of altitude. Low altitude air is more compressed and acts as a heavy blanket, holding in heat. High altitude air is less compressed, the molecules are further apart which allows heat to dissipate more quickly as would a thin blanket.

Answer 3

at higher altitudes the air is thinner. less gas means fewer molecules to excite. and as we all know, an excited molecule gives off energy either in the form of heat or light.... or both.

Answer 4

......................... as you go higher ...... air becomes thinner .............. therefore cools ........... average lapse rate is taken as 2' C per thousand feet ................