Final answer:
The temperature at 1500 meters elevation in the mountains of equatorial Africa is 29°C, calculated by using a lapse rate of 8°C per 1000 meters to adjust the known temperature at 3500 meters.
Step-by-step explanation:
The temperature at different elevations in the mountains of equatorial Africa can be calculated using the lapse rate, which is the rate at which air temperature decreases with an increase in elevation. The question involves finding the temperature at an elevation of 1500 meters given that the temperature at 3500 meters is 13°C and the lapse rate is 8°C per 1000 meters.
To solve this, we must first determine the change in elevation, which is 3500 meters - 1500 meters = 2000 meters. Next, we use the lapse rate to find the total change in temperature, which is 8°C/1000 meters × 2000 meters = 16°C. Since the temperature decreases as we go higher, it will increase by 16°C as we go from 3500 meters down to 1500 meters.
Finally, the temperature at 1500 meters will be the temperature at 3500 meters plus the computed increase in temperature: 13°C + 16°C = 29°C. So, the temperature at 1500 meters elevation is 29°C.