<p>Looking at <a href="https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/700hPa/overlay=temp/orthographic=84.04,30.85,447/loc=103.419,12.271" rel="nofollow noreferrer">earth.nullschool.net</a> on <code>13.09.2021</code> you can see that the temperature above the Himalayas appear warmer than the surroundings (at 700 hPa):</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/6ToDz.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/6ToDz.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>At the surface it looks more like one would expect with lower temperatures than the surroundings:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/ESKao.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/ESKao.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>I'm guessing the explanation is connected to the difference in elevation. And that for some altitudes, temperatures closer to the surface (but not <em>at</em> the surface) are higher.
Still, the same effect is not to be seen in other mountain areas in Europe and North America:</p>
<p><a href="https://i.sstatic.net/tfiAV.png" rel="nofollow noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/tfiAV.png" alt="enter image description here" /></a></p>
<p>Any suggestions?</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T12:48:00.160Z
When you check the 500 hPa map, you see distinct air movements from the west and southwest across the Himalaya range. So the slightly warmer air over the Tibetan plateau could be a result of adiabatic processes.
Erik
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T15:32:41.560Z
@gansub Thanks for the feedback! Would you care to quickly comment on why such questions are inappropriate for this sub? And no, I don't know why the Tibetan plateau is warmer. But I'd love to hear more about it!
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T15:34:51.680Z
@gansub 23rd? I asked about 13th. Which is today.
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T15:38:55.743Z
@gansub Ah, sorry! Typo on my part. Thanks for the edit. The whole idea for writing up the date was to let people know that the images were from this particular date.
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T15:48:14.607Z
@gansub Thank you! Will this imply that the data available for the surface /  `Sfc` option are all adjusted for elevation? Sorry if that's a ridiculois question.
vestland
CC BY-SA 4.0
2021-09-13T16:13:22.083Z
Great read! Thanks!
vestland
<meteorology><atmosphere><climate><temperature><altitude>
Why is the air above the Himalayas warmer than surrounding areas?
vestland
# Why is the air above the Himalayas warmer than surrounding areas?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2021-09-13)

Looking at [earth.nullschool.net](https://earth.nullschool.net/#current/wind/isobaric/700hPa/overlay=temp/orthographic=84.04,30.85,447/loc=103.419,12.271) on `13.09.2021` you can see that the temperature above the Himalayas appear warmer than the surroundings (at 700 hPa):

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/6ToDz.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/6ToDz.png)

At the surface it looks more like one would expect with lower temperatures than the surroundings:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/ESKao.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/ESKao.png)

I'm guessing the explanation is connected to the difference in elevation. And that for some altitudes, temperatures closer to the surface (but not *at* the surface) are higher.
Still, the same effect is not to be seen in other mountain areas in Europe and North America:

[![enter image description here](https://i.sstatic.net/tfiAV.png)](https://i.sstatic.net/tfiAV.png)

Any suggestions?

**Tags:** meteorology, atmosphere, climate, temperature, altitude

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: When you check the 500 hPa map, you see distinct air movements from the west and southwest across the Himalaya range. So the slightly warmer air over the Tibetan plateau could be a result of adiabatic processes.  
> **username_0**: @gansub Thanks for the feedback! Would you care to quickly comment on why such questions are inappropriate for this sub? And no, I don't know why the Tibetan plateau is warmer. But I'd love to hear more about it!  
> **username_0**: @gansub 23rd? I asked about 13th. Which is today.  
> **username_0**: @gansub Ah, sorry! Typo on my part. Thanks for the edit. The whole idea for writing up the date was to let people know that the images were from this particular date.  
> **username_0**: @gansub Thank you! Will this imply that the data available for the surface /  `Sfc` option are all adjusted for elevation? Sorry if that's a ridiculois question.  
> **username_0**: Great read! Thanks!  

---

## 0 answers

