Which statement accurately describes why air pressure decreases as altitude increases? as you increase altitude the temperature difference between the layers of the atmosphere causes extreme winds and the air pressure in turn decreases. as you increase altitude, the air particles move around much more quickly because they have to travel further distances which decreases their pressure. as you increase altitude the temperature is increased and as you heat particles they spread further apart decreasing their pressure. as you increase altitude, earth's gravity is not acting as greatly as when closer to earth's surface so the weight of air molecules decrease, which also in turn decreases air pressure.