• Question: Why does it get colder at higher altitudes

    Asked by UzairC to Robin, oliviawilliams, olegkozhura, Eliza K on 30 Mar 2026.
    • Photo: Eliza Karlowska

      Eliza Karlowska answered on 30 Mar 2026:

      Good question! When air moves up, it expands because of lower pressure and that expansion causes the air to lose energy and hence cool down. At higher altitudes the air has lower density so its molecules are further apart and therefore, they collide much less. Temperature is basically the energy of those collisions so fewer collisions means lower temperature.

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