air temperature

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June 18, 2026

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Temperature is a measure of hotness or coldness, expressed on scales like Fahrenheit and Celsius. It indicates the direction of heat energy flow, moving from hotter to colder bodies. Air temperatures originate from the Sun's radiant energy absorption and are influenced by the atmosphere, oceans, and land.123

Short-term temperature fluctuations can be dramatic. A cold front can cause rapid temperature drops, while descending air over mountains can lead to significant increases. Temperatures generally decrease with altitude due to less favorable radiation balance and the expansion of rising air, a phenomenon known as the adiabatic lapse rate.23

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global warming
…phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as
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…phenomenon of increasing average air temperatures near the surface of Earth over the past one to two centuries. Climate scientists have since the mid-20th century gathered detailed observations of various weather phenomena (such as temperatures, precipitation, and storms) and of related influences on climate (such as
Read More

ice in lakes and rivers
The seasonal cycle
…driven by the difference between air temperature and surface temperature, the extent and duration of ice covers more or less coincide with the extent and duration of average air temperatures below the freezing point (with a lag in the autumn due to the cooling of the water from its summer…
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…driven by the difference between air temperature and surface temperature, the extent and duration of ice covers more or less coincide with the extent and duration of average air temperatures below the freezing point (with a lag in the autumn due to the cooling of the water from its summer…
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permafrost
Effects of climate
, the mean annual air temperature is −12 °C (10 °F), and the thickness is 400 metres (about 1,300 feet). At Fairbanks, Alaska, in the discontinuous zone of permafrost in central Alaska, the mean annual air temperature is −3 °C (27 °F), and the thickness is about 90 metres…
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, the mean annual air temperature is −12 °C (10 °F), and the thickness is 400 metres (about 1,300 feet). At Fairbanks, Alaska, in the discontinuous zone of permafrost in central Alaska, the mean annual air temperature is −3 °C (27 °F), and the thickness is about 90 metres…
Read More