mountain air

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why does it get colder when you are climbing a mountain. But when you are not climbing a mountain it is not cold.

-- mary beth williamson (williamb@hamtramck.k12.mi.us), May 17, 2001

Answers

In general, air temperature decreases with altitude (at least at the altitudes where mountains are found). Next time you are in a commercial airliner at 30,000' ask the pilot what the outside temp is. I think you will find it is well below freezing (even over the equator).

Many mountain areas make their own weather, and may be colder in the summer than surrounding areas due to glaciers (or just increased altitude).

-- George Bell (gibell@home.com), May 21, 2001.


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