Recorded lowest temperatures on earth
Pro Research Analysisby 
Searched over 200M research papers
Record Low Surface Temperatures on Earth: Antarctica, Siberia, and Greenland
The coldest surface air temperature ever recorded on Earth was −89.2°C at Vostok Station, Antarctica, on July 21, 1983. This record was set under unique meteorological conditions, including a near-record low in the mid-tropospheric vortex, minimal warm air intrusion, low wind speeds, and clear skies that allowed maximum heat loss to space. Researchers estimate that even lower temperatures, possibly around −96°C, could be reached at higher sites like Dome Argus, which is typically 5–6°C colder than Vostok Turner2009Zhao2021.
Prior to this, several other extremely low temperatures were documented in Antarctica. For example, during the winter of 1958, Vostok Station recorded −87.4°C, and the South Pole Station reached −74.5°C in 1957, both breaking previous world records for minimum temperature Stepanova1959Stepanova1958. Earlier Antarctic records included −64°C at Boiling Base in 1934 .
In the Northern Hemisphere, the coldest reliably measured temperatures have been observed in northeastern Siberia. Oymyakon recorded −67.7°C in February 1933, and Verkhoyansk has reported similar minima, with some sources suggesting a possible −69.8°C 93Stepanova1958. Greenland also experienced extreme cold, with a record of −66°C at the French central station in 1950 .
Extreme Low Temperatures in the Upper Atmosphere
While surface records are remarkable, even lower temperatures have been measured in the upper atmosphere. For instance, a balloon over Batavia, Java, recorded −131.6°F (about −89.8°C) at 54,000 feet, and another over the British Isles measured −98°F at 7.8 miles altitude. The coldest known temperature in the upper air is −133°F at 10.6 miles above Batavia 36.
Global Patterns and Satellite Observations
Recent satellite data have confirmed that Antarctica remains the coldest place on Earth, with land surface temperatures dropping as low as −110.9°C in some locations. These findings highlight the extreme variability and severity of cold in polar regions, especially on the Antarctic Plateau .
Conclusion
The lowest temperatures ever recorded on Earth have occurred in Antarctica, with the current surface record of −89.2°C at Vostok Station. Northeastern Siberia and Greenland also experience extreme cold, but not to the same extent as the Antarctic interior. Advances in satellite technology continue to refine our understanding of these temperature extremes, confirming Antarctica's status as the coldest place on the planet Turner2009Stepanova1959Zhao2021+4 MORE.
Sources and full results
Most relevant research papers on this topic