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Select the correct answer.

The table gives the average temperatures and elevations of the inner canyon and the north rim of the Grand Canyon.

\begin{tabular}{|l|l|l|}
\hline & Inner Canyon & North Rim \\
\hline average elevation & 2,100 feet & 8,000 feet \\
\hline average temperature in July & [tex]$107^{\circ} F$[/tex] & [tex]$77^{\circ} F$[/tex] \\
\hline average temperature in January & [tex]$56^{\circ} F$[/tex] & [tex]$37^{\circ} F$[/tex] \\
\hline
\end{tabular}

Why is there such a vast climate difference in these two areas of the Grand Canyon?

A. The north rim is in the rain shadow area.
B. The inner canyon is close to a freshwater lake.
C. The north rim is higher than the inner canyon.
D. The inner canyon is close to the ocean.



Answer :

The vast climate difference between the inner canyon and the north rim of the Grand Canyon can be primarily attributed to their difference in elevation.

To understand this, let’s consider the information provided:
- The inner canyon has an average elevation of 2,100 feet.
- The north rim has an average elevation of 8,000 feet.

Now, look at the temperature data:
- In July, the inner canyon has an average temperature of [tex]\(107^{\circ} F\)[/tex], while the north rim has an average temperature of [tex]\(77^{\circ} F\)[/tex].
- In January, the inner canyon has an average temperature of [tex]\(56^{\circ} F\)[/tex], while the north rim has an average temperature of [tex]\(37^{\circ} F\)[/tex].

We can see that there is a considerable drop in temperature as elevation increases. This phenomenon can be explained by the lapse rate in atmospheric science, where the temperature generally decreases with an increase in altitude. For every 1,000 feet increase in elevation, the temperature typically drops by approximately 3.5 to 5.5 degrees Fahrenheit, depending on the specific atmospheric conditions.

Given this information, the correct and most relevant reason for the vast climate difference is:
C. The north rim is higher than the inner canyon.

Therefore, due to its higher elevation, the north rim experiences cooler temperatures compared to the inner canyon.