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WHY THE TEMPERATURE LOSS WHEN WE GO HIGH?
Although the atmosphere is not an ideal gas, the Ideal Gas Law gives a hint:

P * V = R * T

where P is pressure, V is volume, R is the gas constant, and T is the absolute temperature. For a given volume, all other things being equal, one would expect the temperature to drop as pressure drops.

 Above about 10-12 km (6.3-7.5 miles) the drop in temperature stops, and above 20 km (12.5 miles) it starts increasing. This is due to the absorption of UV energy from the sun by the ozone at these altitudes, which is then released as heat. Above about 50 km (32.5 miles) the temperature resumes its drop, until around 90 km (55 miles) it starts climbing again.


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