Understanding the outdoor temperature is an important part of daily life. The temperature outdoors impacts everything from what we wear, to the activities we can comfortably take part in, to our health and safety. Monitoring and properly interpreting temperature data allows us to make informed choices and plan accordingly.
A Definition of Outdoor Temperature
The outdoor or ambient air temperature refers to the degree of hotness or coldness of the air surrounding us when we are outside. It is determined by measuring the air temperature a few feet above ground level, out of direct sunlight. This gives a good indication of how hot or cold it feels to a human outdoors.
The outdoor temperature is most commonly measured in degrees Fahrenheit (°F) in the United States, and degrees Celsius (°C) in most other countries. Temperatures can range from below freezing (0°C/32°F) on a cold winter day, to above 100°F (38°C) on a hot summer afternoon.
How Outdoor Temperature is Measured
Outdoor temperatures are gathered from weather stations that house thermometers in protective shields called Stevenson Screens. These screens allow air flow while blocking direct sunlight or precipitation, giving an accurate reading of the true air temperature.
Most weather stations take temperature readings every minute, and report the average over set intervals – usually every hour. The readings are transmitted to forecasters and weather services to track patterns, compile climate data, and make predictions.
Many backyard weather stations also measure outdoor temperature, although their accuracy can vary. These may report slightly different readings than official stations due to their positioning and calibration.
Factors That Influence Outdoor Temperature
A number of different factors influence the outdoor temperature, causing it to vary across locations and fluctuate throughout the day.
Location
The latitude and terrain of a location have a major impact on temperature:
- Latitude – Areas closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight, resulting in higher temperatures. Locations farther from the equator have lower average temperatures.
- Elevation – Air temperature decreases as elevation increases. Locations at higher elevations are cooler than those at lower elevations.
- Proximity to large water bodies – Areas near oceans generally have more moderate temperatures than inland locations, which can experience more extreme heat and cold.
- Urban vs rural – Cities and metropolitan areas tend to be warmer than surrounding rural areas due to the urban heat island effect.
Time of Day
Outdoor temperature follows distinct daily patterns:
- Temperature is lowest around sunrise, begins rising through the morning, and reaches a peak in the early to mid afternoon.
- Temperatures start to decrease through the late afternoon and evening, reaching the lowest point just before sunrise.
- Cloud cover can dampen the rise and fall of temperature by blocking some sunlight, while clear skies allow for greater fluctuation.
Weather and Seasons
The weather conditions and time of year cause temperatures to vary:
- Clouds – More cloud cover results in cooler days as sunlight is blocked. Clear skies allow more solar heating.
- Precipitation – Rain and snow keep temperatures lower than dry conditions.
- Wind – Strong winds make the air feel colder than the actual temperature. Calm winds allow air temperatures to rise.
- Changing seasons – The tilt of the Earth towards or away from the sun creates warmer and cooler seasons. Outdoor temperatures range widely over the course of the year.
Checking the Outdoor Temperature
There are many ways to check current, historical, and forecasted outdoor temperature data:
- Weather apps and websites – Popular weather apps and sites like AccuWeather and Weather.com provide real-time temperature and forecasts based on your location.
- Local weather reports – Television, radio, and newspaper weather reports share local temperature conditions from official weather stations.
- Smart home devices – Smart speakers, thermostats and other connected devices often report the outside temperature.
- Car dashboard – Many vehicles display the external temperature on the dashboard or infotainment screen.
- Outdoor thermometers – Standalone digital or analog outdoor thermometers can be placed in your backyard to check onsite temperatures.
- Government data – Historical temperature data is available through government agencies like the National Weather Service and NASA.
How Humans Perceive Temperature
While thermometers give an objective numerical reading of the air temperature, the way humans actually experience temperature is subjective. Some factors that impact how we perceive the outdoor temperature include:
- Wind – Moving air makes the outdoor temperature feel colder, as it increases the rate of cooling on exposed skin (wind chill).
- Humidity – Higher humidity exacerbates the effects of high and low temperatures on the body.
- Clothing – The amount and type of clothing worn impacts the perceived temperature based on insulation and breathability.
- Sunlight – Direct sunlight can make the air feel warmer than the shade due to radiant heating.
- Activity level – Physical exertion raises the body’s core temperature, making the air feel cooler than when at rest.
- Acclimatization – People accustomed to certain temperatures will perceive them differently than those who are not.
- Health conditions – Illnesses, medical disorders, and use of medications or drugs can alter how we experience temperature.
So while the air temperature gives an objective measure, our personal factors adjust how hot or cold the air actually feels to us.
The Effects of Outdoor Temperature on the Body
The outdoor temperature impacts human health and physiology in a number of ways:
Hypothermia
Prolonged exposure to very cold temperatures can cause hypothermia – dangerous lowering of core body temperature. Shivering, lack of coordination, slurred speech and confusion are common symptoms. Seeking warm shelter is crucial.
Frostbite
Extreme cold can freeze skin and tissue, resulting in frostbite. Fingers, toes, the nose, ears, cheeks and chin are particularly vulnerable. Frostbite requires urgent medical treatment to avoid permanent damage.
Heat Cramps & Exhaustion
In hot weather, heavy sweating can lead to heat cramps and heat exhaustion causing fatigue, nausea, headache, and muscle cramps. Moving to a cool area and rehydrating is important.
Heatstroke
Extreme heat can overwhelm the body’s temperature regulation, leading to heatstroke. Warning signs include confusion, delirium, loss of consciousness, and seizures. It is a medical emergency requiring rapid cooling and treatment.
Aggravated Medical Conditions
Extreme heat or cold can worsen chronic medical conditions like cardiovascular, respiratory, arthritis, and diabetes-related problems. Temperature-related illness is a particular risk.
Changing Sleep Patterns
Hot or cold outdoor temperatures can affect quality of sleep. People tend to sleep less in hot weather, while cold nights may make it harder to fall and remain asleep.
Overall, the body is adapted to function best within a narrow temperature range around 98.6°F (37°C). Extended periods outside this range due to outdoor conditions place strain on bodily systems.
How Animals Adapt to Different Outdoor Temperatures
Animals have evolved specialized physical and behavioral adaptations to thrive in the typical outdoor temperatures of their native environments:
- Insulation – Layered fur, feathers, blubber, or fat help retain heat in cold climates and provide cooling insulation in hot ones.
- Circulatory adaptations – Adjustments to blood vessels, heart rate, and blood thickness control heat distribution and loss.
- Sweating – Dogs and many mammals sweat through paw pads and the nose to cool down. Birds cool through rapid breathing.
- Behavioral changes – Seeking shade, burrowing underground, huddling together, and adjusting activity levels help manage body temperature.
- Seasonal adaptations – Growing thick winter coats and accumulating extra fat in cold months helps mammals and birds handle lower temperatures.
- Migration – Rather than adapt, many species simply move to more suitable climates as seasons change.
However, animals can still experience temperature-related stress and illness during extreme heat waves or cold snaps that exceed their adaptive capabilities.
How Plants Respond to Outdoor Temperature
Plants also undergo physical and chemical changes to handle varying outdoor temperatures:
- Altering growth – Growth and dormancy cycles time with seasonal temperatures to protect plants from cold damage.
- Adjusting chemical reactions – Reactions involved in photosynthesis, metabolism and other processes work best at certain temperatures.
- Changing composition – Levels of sugars, proteins, and unsaturated fats in plant tissues increase to lower freezing points in cold weather.
- Preventing water loss – Hot, dry air causes stomata pores in leaves to close to avoid dehydration.
- Producing heat – Decaying vegetation generates heat, helping maintain consistent temperatures inside compost and mulch piles.
- Shifting ranges – Over time, some species’ ranges shift towards latitudes or elevations with more suitable temperatures.
Unusual extreme temperatures can damage or kill plants by interrupting vital processes and causing water loss and tissue breakdown.
Choosing Clothing Based on Outdoor Temperature
The type of clothing we need to stay comfortable depends greatly on the outdoor temperature. In moderate conditions, clothing helps maintain core body temperature. But in more extreme heat or cold clothing also protects from environmental hazards like UV radiation, wind, or precipitation:
Warm Weather Attire
- Breathable fabrics – Natural fibers and high-tech synthetic fabrics allow sweat evaporation to cool the body in warm conditions.
- Light colors – Clothes in light shades don’t absorb as much heat from sunlight as dark colors.
- Loose fits – Loose-fitting clothes allow better airflow to the skin.
- Sun protection – Wide brim hats, sunglasses and tightly woven fabrics help block UV rays that increase heat risk.
Cool Weather Attire
- Insulating layers – Materials like wool, down, fleece and synthetics trap air to retain body heat in cold conditions.
- Weatherproof outer layers – Water and wind resistant jackets, coats, boots and gloves protect from elements like snow and wind chill.
- Tight fits – Snug garments reduce circulation of air and loss of core heat.
- Hats – Much of the body’s heat can be lost through the uncovered head and neck.
Dressing appropriately for the temperature and conditions makes outdoor exposure safer and more comfortable.
How Temperature Impacts Outdoor Activities
The feasibility and enjoyment of many outdoor recreational activities relies heavily on the temperature:
- Water sports – Swimming, fishing, boating and other water activities may be dangerous or unpleasant in extremely cold water temperatures.
- Snow sports – Sufficiently cold temperatures are required for skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and other snow-dependent activities.
- Warm weather sports – Golf, tennis, hiking, jogging and biking are most enjoyed in moderately warm, dry conditions.
- Cold weather sports – Ice skating, hockey, curling , and sledding require cold enough temperatures to maintain ice.
- Gardening and agriculture – Planting, growth cycles, and livestock care are tied to warming springtime temperatures.
- Animal activity – Many animals hibernate or migrate when temperatures become too cold in the fall.
- Insect activity – Warmer temperatures increase incidence of stinging and biting insects, as well as some pathogens they transmit.
Checking the outdoor temperature helps determine the right conditions for many popular outdoor and seasonal pastimes.
How Changing Outdoor Temperatures Impact Society
The outdoor temperature impacts nearly every aspect of society including:
- Agriculture – Crop yields, livestock health, and the distribution of agricultural pests are affected by shifts in seasonal temperatures.
- Energy and utilities – Heating and cooling usage spikes during extreme cold and hot spells, straining electrical grids.
- Economics – Weather impacts many industries like construction, tourism, insurance, and retail. Unusual temperatures can mean economic losses.
- Infrastructure – Extreme heat can buckle roads and rails, while cold can damage structures through freezing and expansion.
- Natural ecosystems – Changing seasonal temperatures disrupt plant and animal life cycles, damaging habitats.
- Human health and mortality – Heat waves and extreme cold result in more weather-related injury, illness, and death.
- Emergency services – Severe weather events like blizzards, flooding from snowmelt, and wildfires require extensive emergency response services.
Monitoring long and short term outdoor temperature trends allows society to assess risks, mitigate harm, and make informed plans.
Frequently Asked Questions About Outdoor Temperature
What is the lowest possible outdoor temperature?
The lowest naturally occurring temperature ever directly recorded was -128.6°F (-89.2°C), measured in Antarctica in 1983. In laboratories, temperatures hundreds of degrees below zero have been achieved. But unlimited cooling is impossible, due to quantum effects at extremely low temperatures.
What factors can make the outdoor temperature different from the forecast?
Local geography, wind patterns, humidity, cloud cover, and passing weather systems can all cause the actual outdoor temperature to differ from forecasts, which are based on regional models. Microclimates also allow for temperature variations over short distances.
Why does the temperature drop at night?
After sunset, the Earth stops receiving the sun’s heat. As the ground radiates the absorbed heat back into the atmosphere, air temperatures fall. Night cooling is often amplified by cloudless skies and lessened winds.
Can cold weather make you sick?
Cold air itself does not directly cause illness. But cold air prompts behaviors that can increase sickness risk. Congregating indoors, mild dehydration from lower fluid intake, and dry air impacting respiratory defenses can all contribute when cold weather viruses are circulating.
What temperature should I set my thermostat to match the outdoor temperature?
Thermostats are generally set to around 70°F (21°C) in winter, and 75°F (24°C) in summer to keep indoor temperatures comfortable. Adjustments of 5-10 degrees warmer or cooler can help indoor and outdoor temperatures align for lower energy costs.
An Essential Measurement
Outdoor or ambient air temperature is one of the fundamental measurements that keeps both society and individuals informed about weather conditions. Monitoring and properly understanding temperature trends allows us to plan appropriately, prevent weather-related health dangers, and safely engage in the many activities impacted by the outdoor climate. Taking notice of the simple but vital temperature data all around us helps keep life running smoothly.
References:
- https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/temperature
- https://scied.ucar.edu/learning-zone/how-weather-works/temperature
- https://www.canada.ca/en/environment-climate-change/services/weather-general-tools-resources/understanding-temperature.html
- https://www.nytimes.com/2021/06/10/climate/cold-weather-climate-change.html
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/terms/temperature.htm
- https://climate.nasa.gov/news/2926/the-role-of-temperature-in-the-living-world/