cold

temperature

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June 24, 2026

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Cold refers to a weather condition marked by low temperatures. Temperature itself is a measure of hotness or coldness, indicating the direction of heat energy flow. The lowest possible temperature is absolute zero, theoretically characterized by the complete absence of heat and motion, equivalent to -273.15°C or -459.67°F.123

Cryogenics is the field dedicated to producing and applying low-temperature phenomena, generally defined as temperatures between -150°C (-238°F) and absolute zero. At these extreme conditions, material properties like strength and electrical resistance change significantly.4

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Antarctica
Climate of Antarctica
By far the coldest continent, Antarctica has winter temperatures that range from −128.6 °F (−89.2 °C), the world’s lowest recorded temperature, measured at Vostok Station (Russia) on July 21, 1983, on the high inland ice sheet to −76 °F (−60 °C) near sea level. Temperatures vary greatly from…
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By far the coldest continent, Antarctica has winter temperatures that range from −128.6 °F (−89.2 °C), the world’s lowest recorded temperature, measured at Vostok Station (Russia) on July 21, 1983, on the high inland ice sheet to −76 °F (−60 °C) near sea level. Temperatures vary greatly from…
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petroleum refining
High-volatile and low-volatile components
…engine to start quickly in cold weather—is accomplished by the addition of butane, a very low-boiling paraffin, to the gasoline blend. Fortunately, butane is also a high-octane component with little alternate economic use, so its application has historically been maximized in gasoline. Another requirement, that a quality gasoline have a…
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…engine to start quickly in cold weather—is accomplished by the addition of butane, a very low-boiling paraffin, to the gasoline blend. Fortunately, butane is also a high-octane component with little alternate economic use, so its application has historically been maximized in gasoline. Another requirement, that a quality gasoline have a…
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food preservation
Low-temperature preservation
Storage at low temperatures prolongs the shelf life of many foods. In general, low temperatures reduce the growth rates of microorganisms and slow many of the physical and chemical reactions that occur in foods.
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Storage at low temperatures prolongs the shelf life of many foods. In general, low temperatures reduce the growth rates of microorganisms and slow many of the physical and chemical reactions that occur in foods.
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