Does temperature change with depth in a fluid?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion centers on the relationship between temperature and depth in fluids, exploring whether temperature increases or decreases with depth. Participants consider various contexts, including oceanic and atmospheric conditions, and the influence of convection and pressure on temperature variations.

Discussion Character

  • Exploratory
  • Conceptual clarification
  • Debate/contested

Main Points Raised

  • One participant suggests that temperature might decrease with depth due to increased pressure, expressing confusion about the behavior of temperature in both oceans and the atmosphere.
  • Another participant notes that there isn't a single answer, indicating that temperature behavior in fluids can vary depending on specific situations, such as convection in water.
  • It is mentioned that in the atmosphere, temperature decreases with altitude because air expands as pressure drops, leading to cooling.
  • A participant highlights that temperature variations can also depend on the specifics of the situation, such as stratification in buildings where it is often warmer higher up.
  • One participant states that there is no inherent relationship between temperature and pressure, suggesting that the relationship is not straightforward.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants express that the relationship between temperature and depth in fluids is not universally agreed upon, with multiple competing views regarding how temperature behaves in different contexts.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge that the behavior of temperature in fluids can depend on various factors, including the type of fluid and specific environmental conditions, without resolving these complexities.

Cheesycheese213
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Hi, so someone probably has already asked this, but does temperature increase or decrease with depth in a fluid? I thought it would decrease since it has more pressure but it is probably wrong, or doesn't make sense. I was confused because the ocean gets colder the deeper you go, but then does the same thing happen with increasing altitude? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I got really confused. Thanks!
 
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Cheesycheese213 said:
Hi, so someone probably has already asked this, but does temperature increase or decrease with depth in a fluid? I thought it would decrease since it has more pressure but it is probably wrong, or doesn't make sense. I was confused because the ocean gets colder the deeper you go, but then does the same thing happen with increasing altitude? Sorry if this is a dumb question, but I got really confused. Thanks!
There doesn't have to be a single answer, depending on specific situations, but for water in convection, it will tend to be colder lower and warmer higher up. The atmosphere has the opposite because air expands as the pressure drops, resulting in cooling.
 
russ_watters said:
There doesn't have to be a single answer, depending on specific situations, but for water in convection, it will tend to be colder lower and warmer higher up. The atmosphere has the opposite because air expands as the pressure drops, resulting in cooling.
Ohhhh okay, so it depends on the fluid? Thank you so much a,
 
Cheesycheese213 said:
Ohhhh okay, so it depends on the fluid? Thank you so much a,
You're welcome, but it isn't just the fluid, it also can depend on specifics of the situation. For example, in most buildings, it is warmer higher up because of stratification; the same reason why liquids are sometimes warmer higher up. That's because for relatively small altitude differences, there isn't enough density change to allow for cooling due to expansion.
 
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As Russ is saying, there is no a priori relationship between temperature and pressure.
 

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