Scientists are measuring a distant planet's temperature. The graph shows the temperature (in \( { }^{\circ} \mathrm{C} \) ) versus the height (in kilometers) above the planet's surface. Temperature (a) What is the temperature at 0 kilometers? (b) Choose the statement that best describes how the height and temperature are related. Then fill in the blank. \( { }^{\circ} \mathrm{C} \) ) As the height increases, the temperature decreases. \( { }^{\circ} \mathrm{C} \) per kilometer

At 0 kilometers above the planet's surface, the temperature is simply the value indicated at that point on the graph. Generally, this initial temperature helps set a baseline for understanding how the environment varies with altitude. In many planets, including Earth, a common trend is that temperature decreases as you rise in elevation. For your blank, the relationship can often be expressed with a negative slope, indicating that for every kilometer you ascend, the temperature might decrease by a specific number of degrees Celsius, such as 6.5 °C/km, reflecting a standard lapse rate in the atmosphere.