How to Compare World Temperatures

The further from the equator, the colder the planet gets.

The planet's temperatures vary according to region and time of year. In some areas of the world, the temperature can vary more than 100 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of a calendar year. Interested people can compare global temperatures using a little Internet research.

Research

Temperatures for cities around the world can be found on websites such as The Weather Channel. These sites update the temperatures for most of the major cities in the world on an hourly basis or sooner. The present temperature is available, as well as the projected high and low for the day.

Geography

Each of the world's geographic regions has its own temperature trends. In most countries in the world, the summer months bring the warmest temperatures while the winter months are the coldest. In areas close to the equator, the distinction between summer and winter is less apparent since the temperatures are warm year-round.

Fun Fact

The planet's hottest recorded surface temperature in history was 136 degrees Fahrenheit, confirmed by a meteorological station in Libya in 1922. The coldest surface temperature ever recorded was -129 degrees Fahrenheit, occurring in Antarctica in 1983.

References

• Weather.com: Forecasts
• Extreme Science: Hottest Place on Earth
• Live Science: The Story Behind Earth's Coldest Temperature Ever