When you go to a higher elevation, the temperature generally decreases due to the change in atmospheric conditions. This phenomenon is known as the lapse rate. The lapse rate refers to the rate at which temperature decreases with an increase in altitude.
The decrease in temperature with altitude occurs primarily because of two factors:
Adiabatic cooling: As you ascend to higher altitudes, the air pressure decreases. When air expands due to the lower pressure, it cools down. This process is known as adiabatic cooling. The decrease in pressure and temperature with increasing altitude is a result of the expansion of air molecules.
Radiative cooling: At higher altitudes, the atmosphere is less dense, and there are fewer greenhouse gases to trap and retain heat. This leads to more efficient radiative cooling, where heat is radiated away from the atmosphere into space. As a result, the temperature decreases further.
Regarding your question about heat radiating out to space or getting trapped in greenhouse gases, it's important to understand the role of greenhouse gases in the Earth's atmosphere. Greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane (CH4), can absorb and re-emit infrared radiation. This process is known as the greenhouse effect.
Greenhouse gases do trap some of the heat radiated by the Earth's surface, preventing it from escaping directly into space. This natural greenhouse effect is essential for maintaining a habitable temperature on Earth. However, human activities have led to an increase in greenhouse gas concentrations, resulting in enhanced warming of the planet, commonly referred to as global warming or climate change.
While greenhouse gases can trap heat near the Earth's surface, the majority of the heat in the atmosphere is eventually radiated out into space. The balance between incoming solar radiation and outgoing infrared radiation determines the overall temperature of the Earth. However, the increased concentration of greenhouse gases can disrupt this balance, leading to a net increase in retained heat and contributing to global warming.
To summarize, the decrease in temperature with increasing altitude is primarily due to adiabatic cooling and more efficient radiative cooling at higher altitudes. While greenhouse gases do trap some heat near the Earth's surface, the majority of the heat is eventually radiated out to space.