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SESK: Stuff Everyone Should Know · sesk.info/aero-standard-lapse-rate

In the standard atmosphere, how much does temperature drop per 1,000 feet of climb?

About 2 degrees Celsius (about 3.5 degrees Fahrenheit).

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  1. About 10 degrees Celsius
  2. It does not change with height
  3. About 2 degrees Celsius ✔

Why: The higher you climb in the lowest layer of air, the colder it gets. The standard rate is about 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet.

Huh, didn't know that: The standard lapse rate applies up to about 36,000 feet.

The dad joke
Why did the thermometer climb the mountain? It wanted to chill out.
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References

Answer: About 2 degrees Celsius. The higher you climb in the lowest layer of air, the colder it gets. The standard rate is about 2 degrees Celsius for every 1,000 feet.

  1. FAA Pilot's Handbook of Aeronautical Knowledge (FAA-H-8083-25C), Chapter 12 Weather Theory www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/handbooks_manuals/aviation/faa-h-8083-25c.pdf
    the average temperature decreases at a rate of about 2 °Celsius (C) every 1,000 feet of altitude gain
    Checked 2026-10-10.

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