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Article: Atmospheric Lapse Rate
- Article from:
- World of Earth Science
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Atmospheric lapse rate
The atmospheric lapse rate describes the reduction, or lapse of air
temperature
that takes place with increasing altitude. Lapse rates related to changes in altitude can also be developed for other properties of the atmosphere.
In the lower regions of the atmosphere (up to altitudes of approximately 40,000 feet [12,000 m]), temperature decreases with altitude at a fairly uniform rate. Because the atmosphere is warmed by conduction from Earth's surface, this lapse or reduction in temperature normal with increasing distance from the conductive source.
Although the actual atmospheric lapse rate varies, under normal atmospheric conditions the average atmospheric ...