surface temperature


surface temperature

The temperature of the radiating layers of a star at which its continuous spectrum is produced. The star is assumed to be a perfect radiator, i.e. a black body, and its temperature is usually expressed as its effective temperature or its color temperature. Surface temperature is very much lower than the temperature at the center of a star.

surface temperature

[′sər·fəs ‚tem·prə·chər] (meteorology) Temperature of the air near the surface of the earth. (oceanography) Temperature of the layer of seawater nearest the atmosphere.