Temperature Anomaly Calculator Formula
Understand the math behind the temperature anomaly calculator. Each variable explained with a worked example.
Formulas Used
Temperature Anomaly
anomaly_c = observed_temp - baseline_tempAnomaly (Fahrenheit)
anomaly_f = (observed_temp - baseline_temp) * 1.8Variables
| Variable | Description | Default |
|---|---|---|
observed_temp | Observed Temperature(°C) | 15.2 |
baseline_temp | Baseline Average Temperature(°C) | 14 |
How It Works
What Is a Temperature Anomaly?
A temperature anomaly is the difference between an observed temperature and a long-term baseline average for the same location and time period.
Formula
Anomaly = Observed Temperature - Baseline Average
Anomalies are preferred over absolute temperatures for tracking climate change because they remove local biases and allow meaningful comparisons across different locations and elevations.
Worked Example
The global mean temperature is observed at 15.2°C against a 20th-century baseline of 14.0°C.
observed_temp = 15.2baseline_temp = 14
- 01Anomaly = 15.2 - 14.0 = 1.2°C above baseline
- 02In Fahrenheit: 1.2 x 1.8 = 2.16°F above baseline
Ready to run the numbers?
Open Temperature Anomaly Calculator