Does temperature change with depth in a fluid?

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Temperature behavior with depth in fluids varies based on the fluid type and specific conditions. In water, temperature typically decreases with depth due to convection, while in the atmosphere, temperature decreases with altitude as air expands and cools. Factors like stratification in buildings can lead to warmer temperatures at higher levels. There is no universal rule linking temperature and pressure, as it depends on the context. Understanding these dynamics is essential for grasping fluid temperature variations.
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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