|
E. Linacre |
11/'98 |
Various units of temperature were introduced in Note 1.K. The convention adopted in the textbook is that temperatures are given in degrees Celsius. A web-based conversion from Celcius to Fahrenheit can be found here.
Temperature differences are allotted the unit of Kelvin, which conforms with the custom with regards to specific heat, for instance, which is expressed nowadays in units of Joules per kilogram per Kelvin, i.e. J/(kg.K). For instance, the sea surface temperature around the Galapagos Islands (the eastern equatorial Pacific) is about 20° C, but during an El Niño it may be as much as 5K warmer. The use of distinct units for temperature and its difference distinguishes them more clearly.