DLESE description of Differences Between Ground and Air Temperatures

In developing models for climate change and weather prediction, the measurements of surface and near-surface temperature are an important factor in the modeling process. As the Sun heats the Earth's surface, the atmosphere is warmed from below by the processes of conduction and convection from the surface. However, near-surface air temperature (approximately 10 meters above the surface) is often different than the surface temperature. The different properties of air, land and water, such as density or heat capacity, as well as seasonal changes of the surface type, can explain these differences. In this lesson, students will explore real NASA satellite data to compare the near-surface air temperature and surface temperature in different climate regions. They will then draw conclusions about the seasonal patterns and the effect of the underlying surface on the air temperature.