Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
air that is at or near the Earth is relatively warm, while increasing elevations above “the frying pan”
brings progressively cooler temperatures.
Weighty matter
Another reason why “the higher you go, the cooler it gets” is the fact that the atmosphere has weight.
Gravity is constantly “pulling down” on it. Thus, as altitude increases, the amount of air decreases.
And because the atmosphere holds heat, less air means colder temperatures. Therefore — and to re-
turn to our opening examples — Quito, which is way up in the Andes, has a colder climate than
Quayquil, which is down by sea level.
Seeing (and feeling) is believing
Because relatively cool temperatures characterize high elevations, precipitation in highlands and
mountainous regions is apt to be snow rather than rain for a good portion of the year — if not for all
of it in the case of really high mountains. That results in what many regard as one of nature's most
aesthetically pleasing sights — a snow capped mountain (as you can see in Figure 9-4). But the ef-
fects of elevation may be felt as well as seen. Go up a high mountain, and not only does it get colder
as you go higher, but also breathing becomes increasingly difficult. It makes sense. Air has weight. It
wants to sink towards sea level. So the higher you go, the less air is available to help warm things up
and to help you breathe easier. The condition is called thin air.
Figure 9-4: This
snow-capped
mountain
demonstrates the
relationship
between altitude
and temperature.
The lapse rate
Search WWH ::




Custom Search