How does an increase in altitude affect temperature in the troposphere?

In the troposphere, temperature generally decreases with altitude due to the way the atmosphere is heated. The Earth's surface absorbs heat from the sun and then radiates this heat back into the atmosphere. As you move further away from the surface, the air is less dense, leading to a decrease in temperature with increasing altitude. This trend is known as the environmental lapse rate, which averages about 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer.

The reason this occurs is that the troposphere's temperature is influenced primarily by the ground’s warmth, which diminishes as altitude increases. In addition, the troposphere is where most weather phenomena take place, characterized by a decrease in temperature as you rise, which helps explain why cloud formation and weather patterns often occur within this layer.

This temperature gradient is fundamental to understanding atmospheric processes, including the formation of weather systems. The other options do not accurately reflect the established scientific consensus regarding temperature behavior in the troposphere.