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Another way that the lithosphere affects climate is elevation, or
the height of the earth's surface above sea level. Areas with lower
elevation usually have warmer temperatures than neighboring areas
with higher elevation. It is usually colder on a mountain top than
it is in the valley below. It can be warm at the foot of a mountain
while the top of the mountain is covered with snow.
One of the hottest places on the face of the earth is Death Valley
in California. The valley's average summer temperatures are over
100° F. One of the factors leading to the extreme heat is
the valley's elevation. It is situated 282 feet below sea level. The
low elevation and the valley's location cause the area to receive
very little rain, averaging less than two inches per year.
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