Average temperature of Earth...

Discussion in 'Physics & Math' started by Syzygys, May 6, 2009.

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  1. Syzygys

    Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    ...is that actually possible to measure or meaningful to talk about?

    There are 3 problems:

    1. Homogeneity. The surface of Earth is not homogene and different type of surface has different temperature, and they can not always be compared.

    2. Time. What time period are we measuring? Obviously a 3 months hot period is more important than a qucik 3 days record cold.

    3. Size. Just like #1 a large area's temperture is more important than a small areas.

    I guess through history it is possible to have measurements of the same localities at the same time and compare those, but it is questionable just how meaningful the result is when we talk about the whole Earth's temperature.

    Warning: This thread is not about global warning, but the physical/mathematical problem of the measurement!
     
    Syzygys, May 6, 2009
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  3. Trippy

    Trippy ALEA IACTA EST Staff Member

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    For a discussion of this exact topic, and these problems, see this thread: http://www.sciforums.com/showthread.php?t=91101

    (and yes, it is possible, it's even meaningful, Human Populations are not Homogenous, and we talk about averages of them all the time, any discussion of average temperature should specify what time period, unless there's the implicit underlying sample that you're talking about samples taken on representative days - days that aren't 'unusually hot' or 'unusually cold', size is irrelevant, in fact the small the area that you're measuring the temperature of, the more accurate your average will be - assuming an even distribution of samples).
     
    Trippy, May 6, 2009
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  5. Syzygys

    Syzygys As a mother, I am telling you Valued Senior Member

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    Well, talking about a bad analogy. Hey, what is the average IQ of humankind?
     
    Syzygys, May 6, 2009
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  7. cosmictraveler

    cosmictraveler Be kind to yourself always. Valued Senior Member

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    cosmictraveler, May 6, 2009
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  8. BenTheMan

    BenTheMan Dr. of Physics, Prof. of Love Valued Senior Member

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    Please keep discussion consolidated.

    Thanks
     
    BenTheMan, May 6, 2009
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