How does altitude affect climate?

Altitude significantly influences climate, primarily by affecting temperature and precipitation patterns. As altitude increases, the air pressure drops, which leads to lower temperatures. This phenomenon is commonly observed in mountainous regions, where temperatures decrease with elevation. The average lapse rate, which describes this temperature decrease, is about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer of ascent.

Furthermore, altitude can also impact precipitation patterns. Higher elevations often experience different moisture conditions due to orographic lift, where air masses are forced to rise over mountains. This rising air cools and condenses, resulting in increased precipitation on the windward side of a mountain and drier conditions on the leeward side (rain shadow effect).

In summary, altitude does not merely have an impact on temperature but also significantly affects the climatic conditions within an area, including factors such as humidity and precipitation, making this choice the most accurate response to how altitude affects climate.