Atmospheric temperature
Encyclopedia
Atmospheric temperature is a measure of temperature
at different levels of the Earth's atmosphere
. It is governed by many factors, including incoming solar radiation
, humidity
and altitude
. When discussing surface temperature, the annual atmospheric temperature range at any geographical location depends largely upon the type of biome
, as measured by the Köppen climate classification
.
In the Earth's atmosphere, temperature varies greatly at different heights relative to the Earth's surface. The coldest temperatures like near the mesopause
, an area approximately 85 km (52.8 mi) to 100 km (62.1 mi) above the surface. In contrast, some of the warmest temperatures can be found in the thermosphere
, which receives strong ionizing radiation
at the level of the Van Allen radiation belt
.
Temperature varies as one moves vertically upwards from the Earth's Surface.
, and denotes the average temperature of the Earth based on surface, near-surface or tropospheric
measurements. These temperature record
s and measurements are typically acquired using the satellite or ground instrumental
temperature measurements
, then usually compiled using a database or computer model. Long-term global temperatures in paleoclimate are discerned using proxy data
.
Temperature
Temperature is a physical property of matter that quantitatively expresses the common notions of hot and cold. Objects of low temperature are cold, while various degrees of higher temperatures are referred to as warm or hot...
at different levels of the Earth's atmosphere
Earth's atmosphere
The atmosphere of Earth is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by Earth's gravity. The atmosphere protects life on Earth by absorbing ultraviolet solar radiation, warming the surface through heat retention , and reducing temperature extremes between day and night...
. It is governed by many factors, including incoming solar radiation
Insolation
Insolation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time. It is commonly expressed as average irradiance in watts per square meter or kilowatt-hours per square meter per day...
, humidity
Humidity
Humidity is a term for the amount of water vapor in the air, and can refer to any one of several measurements of humidity. Formally, humid air is not "moist air" but a mixture of water vapor and other constituents of air, and humidity is defined in terms of the water content of this mixture,...
and altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
. When discussing surface temperature, the annual atmospheric temperature range at any geographical location depends largely upon the type of biome
Biome
Biomes are climatically and geographically defined as similar climatic conditions on the Earth, such as communities of plants, animals, and soil organisms, and are often referred to as ecosystems. Some parts of the earth have more or less the same kind of abiotic and biotic factors spread over a...
, as measured by the Köppen climate classification
Köppen climate classification
The Köppen climate classification is one of the most widely used climate classification systems. It was first published by Crimea German climatologist Wladimir Köppen in 1884, with several later modifications by Köppen himself, notably in 1918 and 1936...
.
Temperature versus height
In the Earth's atmosphere, temperature varies greatly at different heights relative to the Earth's surface. The coldest temperatures like near the mesopause
Mesopause
The mesopause is the temperature minimum at the boundary between the mesosphere and the thermosphere atmospheric regions. Due to the lack of solar heating and very strong radiative cooling from carbon dioxide, the mesopause is the coldest place on Earth with temperatures as low as -100°C...
, an area approximately 85 km (52.8 mi) to 100 km (62.1 mi) above the surface. In contrast, some of the warmest temperatures can be found in the thermosphere
Thermosphere
The thermosphere is the biggest of all the layers of the Earth's atmosphere directly above the mesosphere and directly below the exosphere. Within this layer, ultraviolet radiation causes ionization. The International Space Station has a stable orbit within the middle of the thermosphere, between...
, which receives strong ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation
Ionizing radiation is radiation composed of particles that individually have sufficient energy to remove an electron from an atom or molecule. This ionization produces free radicals, which are atoms or molecules containing unpaired electrons...
at the level of the Van Allen radiation belt
Van Allen radiation belt
The Van Allen radiation belt is a torus of energetic charged particles around Earth, which is held in place by Earth's magnetic field. It is believed that most of the particles that form the belts come from solar wind, and other particles by cosmic rays. It is named after its discoverer, James...
.
Temperature varies as one moves vertically upwards from the Earth's Surface.
Global temperature
The concept of a global temperature is commonly used in climatologyClimatology
Climatology is the study of climate, scientifically defined as weather conditions averaged over a period of time, and is a branch of the atmospheric sciences...
, and denotes the average temperature of the Earth based on surface, near-surface or tropospheric
Troposphere
The troposphere is the lowest portion of Earth's atmosphere. It contains approximately 80% of the atmosphere's mass and 99% of its water vapor and aerosols....
measurements. These temperature record
Temperature record
The temperature record shows the fluctuations of the temperature of the atmosphere and the oceans through various spans of time. The most detailed information exists since 1850, when methodical thermometer-based records began. There are numerous estimates of temperatures since the end of the...
s and measurements are typically acquired using the satellite or ground instrumental
Instrumental temperature record
The instrumental temperature record shows fluctuations of the temperature of the global land surface and oceans. This data is collected from several thousand meteorological stations, Antarctic research stations and satellite observations of sea-surface temperature. Currently, the longest-running...
temperature measurements
Thermometer
Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer is a device that measures temperature or temperature gradient using a variety of different principles. A thermometer has two important elements: the temperature sensor Developed during the 16th and 17th centuries, a thermometer (from the...
, then usually compiled using a database or computer model. Long-term global temperatures in paleoclimate are discerned using proxy data
Proxy (climate)
In the study of past climates is known as paleoclimatology, climate proxies are preserved physical characteristics of the past that stand in for direct measurements , to enable scientists to reconstruct the climatic conditions that prevailed during much of the Earth's history...
.
See also
- Atmospheric thermodynamicsAtmospheric thermodynamicsAtmospheric thermodynamics is the study of heat to work transformations in the earth’s atmospheric system in relation to weather or climate...
- Brightness temperatureBrightness temperatureBrightness temperature is the temperature a black body in thermal equilibrium with its surroundings would have to be to duplicate the observed intensity of a grey body object at a frequency \nu....
- Emissivity of Earth's atmosphere