But interested in the replies ...
If hot air rises why is colder on tops of mountains?
2006-11-25 10:22:34 · 12 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Earth Sciences & Geology
migdalski_2000 was pretty much there with his description...
i.e. The air at ground level is (in simple terms) heated by the ground. This is because; the ground is heated by the sun and then radiates that heat into the air, warming it. As the air rises it cools at a rate of about 3.5°C - 5°C per 1000 feet.
Of course, if you are standing on a mountain, you are still standing on ground, so doesn't this ground warm the air too?
Yes, it does, (and this is the minor detail that migdalski_2000 left out), but, when the wind blows, it blows away that warmed air and replaces it with the cold air that is more normal at that altitude.
Simple.
2006-11-26 11:25:16 · answer #1 · answered by amancalledchuda 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The heat at sea level is produced by the sun's heating the surface of the earth. The further you get from the heated surface (up a mountain) the further you get away from the heat, so it's cold.
PS. It's nothing to do with air pressure and cold air is denser so it falls. The explanation above is due to radiated heat. [Imagine a steel plate lying in the sun. It gets hot. If you put your hand close to the sheet, you can feel the heat even without touching it. The further you move your hand upwards away from it, the less ou feel the heat. OK?
2006-11-25 18:31:08 · answer #2 · answered by migdalski 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The air closer to land/sea is warmer because they can trap the sun's heat via conduction.
As for hot air rising, it rises due to its lower density, but this heat is quickly lost before it ever reaches the top of any mountain or hill.
2006-11-26 12:43:28 · answer #3 · answered by Kemmy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot air does rise due to its lesser density that the surrounding air,
however, there is less atmospheric pressure at higher elevations,
allowing denser (colder) air to remain at the top of a mountain
2006-11-25 18:24:46 · answer #4 · answered by sugarplum9903 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Because of sun the earth surface is heated and by conduction & radiation surroudings environments get heated. Otherwise the space is very cold. If you observe the temperature at high altitude while flying in an aeroplane on vedeo screen, you will fine that temperature is always well below 0 degree
From others answers you will find your solution.
2006-11-26 23:46:05 · answer #5 · answered by QISHC 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Hot air temperature changes as the air picks up its heat while going up, and as we know' the higher the altitude, the lower the temperature thus as the hot air goes higher it gets colder.âº
2006-11-25 18:35:25 · answer #6 · answered by ♥ lani s 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
cos god lives were the hot air goes but below where the top of mountains start!! come on everyone nows that!!
2006-11-25 18:30:48 · answer #7 · answered by xxxgorgeousgalxxx 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
When mountaineers open their thermos flasks to take a well deserved drink they find it has gone cold and it subsequently cools down the top of mountains.
2006-11-25 18:26:15 · answer #8 · answered by antony965314 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋
By the time it rises that high, it has mixed with the cool air.
2006-11-25 18:25:50 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
Air at that altitude is too thin to hold the heat.
2006-11-26 22:33:52 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋