What happens to molecules in the air as altitude increases in the troposphere
As altitude increases in the troposphere, the molecules in the air become less dense. The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending from the surface up to an altitude of approximately 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) at the poles and 18 kilometers (11 miles) at the equator.
With increasing altitude, the pressure and density of the air decrease. This means there are fewer molecules present in a given volume of air. The main gases in the troposphere include nitrogen (78%) and oxygen (21%), with trace amounts of other gases like carbon dioxide, water vapor, and noble gases. As altitude increases, the concentrations of these gases remain relatively constant, but the overall number of molecules decreases.
Additionally, the temperature also decreases with increasing altitude in the troposphere. On average, the temperature decreases by around 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of ascent. This decrease in temperature affects the movement and energy of the molecules. As the temperature drops, the molecules move slower and have less kinetic energy.
Overall, at higher altitudes in the troposphere, the air becomes less dense, meaning there are fewer molecules, and the molecules have lower kinetic energy due to the drop in temperature.