What's the Weather Up There?
Study weather patterns, air pressure, temperature, and how conditions change with altitude.
How do temperature and air pressure change as altitude increases in the atmosphere?
Key Vocabulary
Atmosphere
The layer of gases surrounding Earth, held in place by gravity.
Air Pressure
The force exerted by the weight of air molecules pushing on a surface.
Altitude
Height above sea level, usually measured in meters or feet.
Troposphere
The lowest layer of the atmosphere where weather occurs.
Temperature Gradient
The rate at which temperature changes with distance or altitude.
Weather Front
The boundary between two different air masses.
Key Concepts
- 1
As altitude increases, air pressure decreases because there are fewer air molecules above you.
- 2
Temperature generally decreases with altitude in the troposphere at about 6.5°C per 1,000 meters.
- 3
Weather occurs in the troposphere, the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere.
- 4
Changes in air pressure and temperature help scientists predict weather patterns.