What happens to the temperature in the troposphere as altitude increases?

In the troposphere, the temperature decreases with an increase in altitude. This phenomenon occurs due to the way the Earth's surface interacts with solar radiation and the atmosphere. The Earth's surface absorbs sunlight and warms the air directly above it. As you go higher in the troposphere, the distance from this heat source increases, leading to a decrease in temperature.

Additionally, as air rises, it expands due to lower pressure at higher altitudes. This expansion causes the air to cool, which further contributes to the drop in temperature with altitude. This consistent pattern of decreasing temperatures with elevation in the troposphere is a fundamental principle of atmospheric science and is observed in various weather phenomena.

Understanding this concept is crucial, as it forms the basis for more advanced topics in meteorology and atmospheric studies, including the behavior of weather systems and the distribution of various atmospheric layers.