What is the average temperature of the Earth?
According to the World Meteorological Organization and the National Climatic Data Center, the average temperature of the Earth s surface in 2005 was 58.1°F. This was the second-warmest year since record-keeping began in 1861. The warmest year on record was 1998. The global average is based on readings from more than 7,200 ground weather stations around the world and from ships and buoys at sea. Learn more about the Earth’s average temperature in 2005 on this USA TODAY resource page.