Vertical Distribution of Temperature:
- The vertical distribution of temperature refers to how temperature changes with altitude in the atmosphere.
- In general, temperature decreases with increasing altitude in the troposphere, the lowest layer of the atmosphere.
- This decrease in temperature is known as the lapse rate, which is approximately 6.5 degrees Celsius per kilometer.
- However, in the stratosphere, temperature actually increases with altitude due to the presence of the ozone layer that absorbs ultraviolet radiation from the sun.

Horizontal Distribution of Temperature:
- The horizontal distribution of temperature refers to how temperature varies across different latitudes on the Earth's surface.
- The equator generally experiences higher temperatures due to the direct angle of sunlight it receives, while the poles experience colder temperatures due to the oblique angle of sunlight.
- This temperature difference between the equator and poles drives atmospheric circulation, creating global wind patterns and ocean currents.
- The distribution of land and water also affects temperature, with land heating up and cooling down more quickly than water, leading to temperature variations between coastal and inland areas.
Overall, understanding both the vertical and horizontal distribution of temperature is important for studying weather patterns, climate change, and other atmospheric processes.