ESS11
Prof. Jin-Yi Yu
Why Is the Mountain Peak Cold?
q Sunlight
heats the atmosphere from below
è Convection occurs and brings heat upward
è Air parcels expands as they move upward
(because air pressure decreases with height)
è Thermal energy in the parcel is used to
expand the air parcel
è Air parcel becomes cold
è Temperature decreases with height in the
atmosphere