Which one of the following statements is correct with reference to normal lapse rate?

Question

Question

This question was previously asked in

UPSC CAPF Paper - I: Official Paper (Held on: 7 Aug 2022)

Temperature is highest at ground level and decreases with increasing altitude.
Temperature is lowest at ground level and increases with increasing altitude.
Temperature remains stable with increasing altitude.
Temperature first increases with increasing altitude and gradually starts decreasing.

Answer 1

The correct answer is option 1.

Key Points

In the Troposphere, every 165 metres of elevation gain results in a 1 degree Celsius drop in temperature. This is called the normal lapse rate.
Lapse rate - the rate at which the temperature changes when an object ascends through the atmosphere. The temperature is regarded as decreasing with height when the lapse rate is positive, constant with elevation when it is zero, and increasing with elevation when it is negative.

Altitude region (km)	Lapse rate in degrees celsius/ km	Layer of atmosphere
0-11	6.5	Troposphere
11-20	0.0	The upper boundary of Troposphere
20-32	-1.0	Stratosphere
32-47	-2.8	The upper boundary of Stratosphere