Temperature at Altitude Calculator

In the lowest layer of Earth's atmosphere—the troposphere—temperature generally decreases with an increase in elevation. This phenomenon is known as the environmental lapse rate. For dry air, the standard adiabatic lapse rate is approximately 9.8 degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters (or about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit per 1,000 feet). The fundamental formula used to compute temperature at a specific altitude is T(h) = T_0 - (L * h), where T(h) is the temperature at the target height, T_0 is the sea-level temperature, L is the lapse rate, and h is the altitude.

Imagine you are starting a mountain trek at sea level where the baseline temperature is a comfortable 25 degrees Celsius. You want to know what the temperature will be at a mountain camp located 3,000 meters above sea level. Using the standard lapse rate of 6.5 degrees Celsius per 1,000 meters for a typical moist atmosphere, we multiply the altitude (3 km) by the lapse rate (6.5 °C/km), giving a total temperature drop of 19.5 degrees Celsius. Subtracting this from your starting temperature of 25 °C yields an expected temperature of 5.5 degrees Celsius at your mountain camp.

Always account for local weather phenomena such as temperature inversions, which can temporarily cause air to warm rather than cool as you gain altitude. Remember that humidity and moisture content alter the specific adiabatic lapse rate, so actual mountain conditions may deviate slightly from standard mathematical models. When planning high-altitude activities, always pack extra thermal layers since wind chill can drastically lower the perceived temperature far beyond the baseline calculation.