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Temperature

A freezing winter day

A freezing winter day is weather cold enough for outdoor water to turn to ice.

How big is it?

-10 °C · temperature

Also 14 °F

Temperature · defined reference

Scale illustration of a freezing winter day, showing the recorded temperature.
Recorded temperature: -10 °C.

A little perspective

A freezing winter day vs Water triple point: temperature comparison

The temperature of a freezing winter day is 10.01 K lower than the water triple point.

Scale
A freezing winter day

A freezing winter day is weather cold enough for outdoor water to turn to ice.

-10 °CTemperature
0 K · absolute zero
Water triple point

The water triple point is the unique temperature and pressure at which water can exist simultaneously as solid, liquid, and vapour in equilibrium.

0.01 °CTriple-point temperature
0 K · absolute zero
Celsius and Fahrenheit zero points are offsets. Compare temperature differences, not ratios in °C or °F. The kelvin axis starts at absolute zero.
Measurements, assumptions & sources +

A freezing winter day

Temperature: -10 °C; defined reference.

A defined −10 °C weather example. No location or average is implied.

Defined examples — our methodology

The marked temperature is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

Water triple point

Triple-point temperature: 0.01 °C; specified.

The triple point of water is 273.16 K for a specified isotopic composition at its equilibrium pressure. It is distinct from ordinary freezing water at atmospheric pressure.

IAPWS — Fundamental physical constants of water

The marked triple-point temperature is calibrated. Unmeasured illustration details are representative.

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Why this measurement?

Why we use -10 °C

We compare the temperature of a freezing winter day. This is an illustrative comparison value, not a claim that every example is the same.

A defined −10 °C weather example. No location or average is implied.

The picture identifies the subject; the diagram compares the recorded values. How calibrated comparisons work →

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Recorded properties

Dimensions and measurements

PropertySelected valueRecorded rangeBasis
-10 °CNot recordeddefined reference

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Sources and method

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