In the stratosphere, how does air pressure change with altitude?

In the stratosphere, how does air pressure change with altitude?

• A. It increases
• B. It decreases
• C. It remains constant
• D. It varies randomly

Answer: (B)

In the stratosphere, air pressure decreases with altitude due to the decreasing density of air as you go higher. This phenomenon occurs because the weight of the air above exerts a downward force, creating higher pressure at lower altitudes where more air molecules are present. As altitude increases, there are fewer air molecules above any given point, leading to a reduction in pressure. The behavior of air pressure in the stratosphere is a reflection of the overall structure of the Earth's atmosphere. While the troposphere (the layer below the stratosphere) also experiences a decrease in air pressure with increasing altitude, the stratosphere is characterized by a stable temperature gradient, where temperatures initially increase with altitude. This temperature stability does not affect the overall trend of air pressure decreasing with height. Hence, option B accurately captures the relationship between altitude and air pressure in the stratosphere.

In the stratosphere, air pressure decreases with altitude due to the decreasing density of air as you go higher. This phenomenon occurs because the weight of the air above exerts a downward force, creating higher pressure at lower altitudes where more air molecules are present. As altitude increases, there are fewer air molecules above any given point, leading to a reduction in pressure.

The behavior of air pressure in the stratosphere is a reflection of the overall structure of the Earth's atmosphere. While the troposphere (the layer below the stratosphere) also experiences a decrease in air pressure with increasing altitude, the stratosphere is characterized by a stable temperature gradient, where temperatures initially increase with altitude. This temperature stability does not affect the overall trend of air pressure decreasing with height. Hence, option B accurately captures the relationship between altitude and air pressure in the stratosphere.