If hotter air rises, why is air that is closer to the Earth's surface warmer than the air high above it? It was a question that I had to do. Anyone know it?
2007-10-14 20:42:28 · 3 answers · asked by anonymous 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Homework Help
The further towards the centre of the Earth, the warmer, due to the internal heat of the Earth. The surface of the earth is also heated by sunlight. This heats the lower layers of air.
Hot air rises, but only to a certain point: hotter air is less dense. As it rises to higher altitudes, it encounters lower-pressure (less dense) air: when it gets to a level that matches its density, it quits rising.
The Higher, the closer to outer space which has a temperature close to 0 deg Kelvin. So what you have up there is colder, less compressed, less dense air, which now sits on top of the warmer lower air.
Smaller scale similar situations that form on top of cities are called 'temperature inversions'.
2007-10-16 18:01:09 · answer #1 · answered by fooles.troupe 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
In a stable air mass, as you ascend the temperature of the air decreases. It decreases at the adiabatic lapse rate (of which there are two a dry one and a wet one).
However if the air near the ground is heated, from below (as is normal with air), this air becomes less dense than the air above it so it rises. It will ascend until the air around the 'heated air' is the same density of the air around it.
Basically there are two factors at play. The heat of the air influencing its density and the pressure on the air, influencing its density. At the top of a mountain the pressure on the air is low and thus it has a low temperature. The opposite applies at the bottom of the mountain.
2007-10-22 22:28:35 · answer #2 · answered by jemhasb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to look it up to check but I think it has something to do with the various layers of the Earth. I think (please check up on this) I think that although the solar rays from the sun hit the Earth's atmosphere a lot of the light is deflected back into outer space and a small proportion is absorbed and trapped in the Earths atmosphere.
A significant issue is 'Global Warming'. As we are producing more carbon based compounds and various gaseous pollutants they are creating a layer in the atmosphere that prevents the suns rays being deflected out into space, thus trapped in the Earth's atmosphere.
In essence, hot air rises but its the various layers of the Earth's atmosphere that keep it warm, alive and well.
Hope this helps.
2007-10-15 03:57:50 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋