Temperature gradient

	Email		Print
	Bookmark		Link

Temperature gradient

A temperature gradient is a physical quantity that describes in which direction and at what rate the temperature

Temperature

In physics, temperature is a physical property of a Physical system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold; something that feels hotter generally has the greater temperature....
changes the most rapidly around a particular location. The temperature gradient is a dimensional quantity expressed in units

Units of measurement

The definition, agreement and practical use of units of measurement have played a crucial role in human endeavour from early ages up to this day....
of degrees (on a particular temperature scale) per unit length. The SI

International System of Units

The International System of Units is the modern form of the metric system and is generally a system devised around the convenience of the number ten....
unit is kelvin

Kelvin

The kelvin is a Units of measurement of temperature and is one of the seven SI base units. The Kelvin scale is a Thermodynamic temperature scale where absolute zero, the theoretical absence of all thermal energy, is zero ....
per metre

Metre

The metre or meter is a Unit of measurement of length. It is the SI base unit of length in the metric system and in the International System of Units , used around the world for general and scientific purposes....
(K/m).

Temperature gradients in the atmosphere

Earth's atmosphere

The Earth's atmosphere is a layer of gases surrounding the planet Earth that is retained by the Earth's gravity. Dry air contains roughly 78.08% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, 0.93% argon, 0.038% Carbon dioxide in the Earth's atmosphere, and trace amounts of other gases....
are important in the atmospheric sciences (meteorology

Meteorology

Meteorology is the interdisciplinary scientific study of the Earth's atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting . Studies in the field stretch back millennia, though significant progress in meteorology did not occur until the eighteenth century....
, climatology

Climatology

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 related fields).

e x, y and z are the coordinates

Cartesian coordinate system

In mathematics, the Cartesian coordinate system is used to determine each Point uniquely in a Plane through two numbers, usually called the x-coordinate or abscissa and the y-coordinate or ordinate of the point....
of the location of interest, then the temperature gradient is the vector quantity defined as

Weather and climate relevance
Differences in air temperature between different locations are critical in weather forecasting and climate.

Discussion

Ask a question about 'Temperature gradient'

Start a new discussion about 'Temperature gradient'

Answer questions from other users

Full Discussion Forum

Mathematical description

Assuming that the temperature T is an intensive quantity, i.e., a single-valued, continuous

Continuous function

In mathematics, a continuous function is a function for which, intuitively, small changes in the input result in small changes in the output. Otherwise, a function is said to be discontinuous....
and differentiable

Derivative

In calculus, a branch of mathematics, the derivative is a measure of how a function changes as its input changes. Loosely speaking, a derivative can be thought of as how much a quantity is changing at a given point....
function

Function (mathematics)

The mathematical concept of a function expresses dependence between two quantities, one of which is known and the other which is produced. A function associates a single output to each input element drawn from a fixed Set , such as the real numbers , although different inputs may have the same output....
of three-dimensional space (often called a scalar field

Scalar field

In mathematics and physics, a scalar field associates a scalar value, which can be either scalar in definition, or scalar , to every point in space....
), i.e., that

where x, y and z are the coordinates

Cartesian coordinate system

Weather and climate relevance

Differences in air temperature between different locations are critical in weather forecasting and climate. The absorption of solar light at or near the planetary surface increases the temperature gradient and may result in convection

Convection

Convection in the most general terms refers to the movement of molecules within fluids . Convection is one of the major modes of heat transfer and mass transfer....
(a major process of cloud

Cloud

A cloud is a visible mass of Drop or frozen crystals floating in the Celestial body atmosphere above the surface of the Earth or another planetary body....
formation, often associated with precipitation

Precipitation (meteorology)

File:MeanMonthlyP.gifIn meteorology, precipitation is any product of the condensation of Atmosphere water vapor that is deposited on the earth's surface....
). Similarly, on a global and annual basis, the dynamics of the atmosphere (and the oceans) can be understood as attempting to reduce the large difference of temperature between the poles

Geographical pole

A geographical pole , is either of two points on the surface of a spinning planet or other spinning body, at 90 degrees from its equator, at one of the two points where the Axis of rotation around which the body spins meets the surface of the body....
and the equator by redistributing masses of warm and cold air (and water).

Meteorological fronts

Surface weather analysis

Surface weather analysis is a special type of weather map that provides a view of weather elements over a geographical area at a specified time based on information from ground-based weather stations....
are regions where the horizontal temperature gradient may reach relatively high values, as these are boundaries between air masses

Air mass

In meteorology, an air mass is a large volume of air that have characteristics of temperature and water vapor content. Air masses cover many hundreds or thousands of square miles, and slowly change in accordance with the surface below them....
with rather distinct properties.

Clearly, the temperature gradient may change substantially in time, as a result of diurnal or seasonal heating and cooling for instance.

Day to day experiences and health issues

Other places where noticeable temperature gradients can be experienced include the entrance (or exits) of air conditioned shops in the summer, or the entrance of caves and other protected or poorly ventilated areas.

Rapid changes in temperature (in space or time) may cause discomfort and, in extreme cases, heat or cold stresses.

Temperature gradient

Mathematical description

Weather and climate relevance

Day to day experiences and health issues

See also

External links