potential temperature

Earth science

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Last updated

July 1, 2026

Quick Summary

Potential temperature is a concept in Earth science that describes the temperature a sample of air would reach if it were brought to a pressure of 1000 millibars without any heat being added or removed from the environment. This is a theoretical value used to understand atmospheric processes.1

Air temperatures, in general, originate from the Sun's radiant energy and are influenced by the atmosphere, ocean, and land. While solar radiation is the primary driver of climate, short-term temperature fluctuations can occur due to weather disturbances like cold fronts or descending mountain winds.2

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isentropic chart
…also a surface of constant potential temperature (the temperature a parcel of dry air would have if brought from its initial state to a standard pressure [1,000 millibars] without exchange of heat with its environment). The isentropic surface varies in height from place to place over the Earth, the variation…
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…also a surface of constant potential temperature (the temperature a parcel of dry air would have if brought from its initial state to a standard pressure [1,000 millibars] without exchange of heat with its environment). The isentropic surface varies in height from place to place over the Earth, the variation…
Read More