Does the expansion of air cause its temperature to increase or decrease? Why?


Expansion decreases the temperature of air. As air rises in the atmosphere the surrounding air pressure decreases allowing for the air to expand. Because there is no other energy source, the air molecules use their own energy to spread out. This energy loss causes a reduction in molecular speed and, therefore, air temperature as well.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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Which site will most likely experience rapid erosion?



A) 1, cliffs composed of hard rocks
B) 2, sediments in a delta
C) 3, the seafloor deep beneath the waves
D) 4, the coastline of a bay
E) 5, the coastline in a branching embayment

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

Evaluate whether gender inequality is a barrier to development

What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

How did climatic changes influence the evolution of hominids from anthropoids? What will be an ideal response?

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

The term pressure gradient refers to:

A) change in pressure at a weather station over 3 hours time. B) change in pressure along a horizontal surface. C) change in pressure from the tropopause to sea level. D) highest and lowest pressures at a station. E) change in wind speed at the same station.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences