why is it colder higher up in mountains?

Question

Why is it the higher up you go up a hill or large mountain the colder it is, you would have thought it would be warmer with it being higher and nearer to the sun

Answer 1

During the day (when sun is out), it really isn't much colder. In fact, it can be warmer. At night, definitely colder. The higher up you are, the less atmosphere there is, so the air is thinner. Thinner air changes temperature a lot easier, so it heats up and cools down quickly.



The average temp is lesser at the higher elevation because it is further from the surface. Yes, you are closer to the sun, but as someone mentioned prior to my answer, you are really only like 0.00023% closer, so the difference is unnoticeable. But, There are 2 sources of heat: ultraviolet from the sun, and infrared from the earth's surface. The more atmosphere there is, the more of that heat gets held in (I.e. greenhouse effect). With less atmosphere, that heat rises very quickly and neutralizes in the colder upper air, so less is felt at ground level.

Answer 2

On a percentage basis, you're not really any closer. 4 miles out of 93million just doesn't matter.



The pressure differences from high to low altitude mean that to move air from one place to another cause volume changes. In order to make the volume change, work has to be done, and this work can change the temperature of the gas.



So a parcel of gas rising will expand and cool, while a parcel of gas falling will compress and be heated. Because there is constant movement to some extent between layers in the troposphere, the general trend is for higher altitudes to be cooler. This general trend can be incorrect over short periods of time as weather changes, but it's the overall rule.

Answer 3

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Comparison_US_standard_atmosphere_1962.svg

In the image linked, you will see how the atmosphere disappears fast, while the temperature goes down to about negative 50 degrees (roughly 220 kelvin). The highest mountains get up to about 8,850 meters. So standing on land does not get to the coldest point yet. When you get up higher, then the temperature goes up again, but this happens at an very high altitude (peaking at 50 km), this temperature increase is due to the solar radiation that is absorbed by the atmosphere.

The idea of "heat rises" would only work if the atmosphere remains at a constant pressure.



Oddly enough, when the wind is going over mountains, it loses about half a degree for every 100' in altitude it goes up, then gains about one degree for every 100' in altitude it goes back down. As a result, areas just on the leeward side of mountain ranges can get very warm winter winds. This occurs in Calgary, Canada.

Answer 4

Its not nearer the sun.

Heat needs something to hold the heat (like air).

The higher you go up a mountain the less air there is so the less heat there is.