What is the Earth’s Average Temperature?












Comparison to Other Planets:






Variations Throughout History:








Internal Temperatures:








7 Replies to “What is the Earth’s Average Temperature?”

  1. dihydrogen monooxyde is to blame 70% of the time, where it concerns Earth, on the surface of it all.
    It might be suffocating below the more obvious transition line, but it would be way hotter if there was none of it on Earth. Not to mention that its transition state from 3rd to 2nd phase instigates a lot radiation prevention due to its reflective nature.

  2. Quite an article, Matt. A whole lot of history and information for just one piece.
    I have to take issue with your statement that an inclination of the earth’s orbit causes our seasons. It is the inclination of the earth’s axis that does that, not of its orbit. I was never aware that the orbit was inclined several degrees to the sun’s equator. Where does that claim originate?

    Be that as it may, I need to ask because I’ve either plain forgotten or plain didn’t know in the first place:
    Where is Earth in our sun’s Goldilocks zone? Is it centered or toward the inner or outer edge, and if so, how far from an edge?

    1. It would be highly unlikely for a planet to orbit it’s star at an inclination of exactly 0°, maybe impossible? All of the planets’ orbits (not including dwarf planets) are inclined several degrees to the Sun’s equator. Actually, I believe Earth’s orbit is inclined the most (as viewed from the Sun’s equator), by maybe a degree or two more than the other planets. Although they are all inclined fairly closely together, and at fairly small inclinations all under 7-8° if I recall correctly (again, from the Sun’s equator).

      We are pretty well in the middle of our Sun’s conservatively estimated habitable zone, maybe a hint towards the inside (towards the Sun). This zone extends out to just before the orbit of Mars, and extends in to just before the orbit of Venus. However, some less conservative estimates put the HZ out to 3AU, just past the orbit of Ceres.

  3. Goldilocks is a very relativistic notion which is very direct reported to the life we know. For another types of life (not based on DNA or even carbon) our zone may be out of their pleasure. For example even here there are types of life (extremofiles) like on the ocean floor near hydrothermal vents that like (and only can) live at temperatures between 80–122 °Celsius (248 °F).

  4. “And given that Earth has an inclined orbit (approximately 7.15° to the Sun’s equator), the Northern and Southern Hemispheres of Earth are either tilted towards or away from the Sun during the summer and winter seasons, respectively. And given that equatorial regions of the Earth are closer to the Sun”

    Hi Matt, The Earths seasons are caused by the Earths 23.5 degree axis tilt and has nothing to do with the inclined orbit. Also, the equatorial regions being closer to the sun is insignificant because of the distance involved. The suns rays are overhead and more direct than other latitudes.

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