Which statement explains what happens to air temperature as elevation increases and why? As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools. As elevation increases, air pressure increases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises. As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools. As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules compress, and air temperature rises.

Option C, As elevation increases, air pressure decreases, molecules spread out, and air temperature cools.

Explanation:

As we move towards the sky the number of air particles reduces and hence its density also reduces. Due to lesser number of particles the pressure exerted by air also reduces at high elevations.

As per the gas law

Where P is the pressure, V is the volume, n is the number of mole, R is the gas constant and T is the temperature.  

Gas law states that if volume is constant, the relation between temperature and pressure is proportional.  

Thus, if pressure is reducing the temperature will also reduce.  

Hence, option C is correct

he movement of air through earth's or any planet's atmosphere is called wind, and the main cause of earth's winds is uneven heating by the sun. this uneven heating causes changes of atmospheric pressure, and winds blow from regions with high pressure to those with low pressure.

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