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 20:42:56 · 3 answers · asked by anonymous 3 in Education & Reference ➔ Other - Education
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 17:59:48 · answer #1 · answered by fooles.troupe 7 · 4⤊ 0⤋
The ozone layer keeps the earth heated anything above the ozone layer will cool down
2007-10-14 20:57:57 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 1⤋
See the answer in your other place where you asked this question.
2007-10-22 15:32:15 · answer #3 · answered by jemhasb 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋