What is the standard temperature lapse rate?

What is the standard temperature lapse rate?

• A. -1 degrees per 1,000 feet
• B. -3 degrees per 1,000 feet
• C. -2 degrees per 1,000 feet
• D. 0 degrees per 1,000 feet

Answer: (C)

In the standard atmosphere, air temperature drops as you gain height. In the troposphere, this cooling happens at about 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet you climb (roughly 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer). The negative sign simply shows that temperature decreases with altitude. So the standard lapse rate is about -2°C per 1,000 feet. This rate is set to a fixed value in aviation planning and differs from other options that imply a slower, faster, or no change in temperature with height.

In the standard atmosphere, air temperature drops as you gain height. In the troposphere, this cooling happens at about 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet you climb (roughly 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer). The negative sign simply shows that temperature decreases with altitude. So the standard lapse rate is about -2°C per 1,000 feet. This rate is set to a fixed value in aviation planning and differs from other options that imply a slower, faster, or no change in temperature with height.