<p>This is one of key questions that NASA's Mars InSight probe is trying to answer but it has only recently arrived and starting taking data and it will be a while before the data is analyzed and published in peer reviewed journals. The "mole" which would burrow below the surface and make the temperature measurements encountered some initial issues and NASA and the instrument's builders were running further tests and looking at those data before proceeding according to <a href="https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8419/more-testing-for-mars-insights-mole/?site=insight" rel="nofollow noreferrer">this mission press release</a>.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-22T14:48:16.880Z
2019-05-22T14:48:16.880Z
astrosnapper
<p>For a term-paper kind of answer you don't actually need to wait for Mars InSight to tell you. 15 feet is deep enough for you to able to assume that the temperature will be the <em>average</em> of temperatures on the surface. </p>

<p>So first find a graph of the temperature on a typical Martian spring or autumn day, then work out the average temperature over the 25 hours. That is a good first guess.</p>

<p>I think that 15 feet is deep enough for variations <em>across the year</em>, between summer and winter, to be averaged out fairly effectively as well, though that is something you may want to discuss a little in your paper. <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost" rel="nofollow noreferrer">This Wikipedia article about permafrost</a> is worth reading to see how the Earth averages its own temperatures at depth over the course of a year.</p>

<p>On a planetary scale 15 feet is very shallow indeed, so the amount of heat flowing from the inside of Mars towards the surface will be tiny (this is what that InSight probe is measuring) and I would suggest mentioning it only in order to say that you are ignoring it.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-23T18:18:26.563Z
Maybe even find the gradient for sub-surface temps on Earth and then ratio them based on distance from the sun comparative to Mars for an experimental value! Obviously the material the soil is made of will attribute to the sub-surface temp, but the main difference will be sun-distance.
Magic Octopus Urn
CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-22T19:15:54.817Z
2019-05-22T19:15:54.817Z
Martin Kochanski
<p>I was wondering this for a school paper I'm writing.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2019-05-23T00:33:43.393Z
just for background only, [this answer](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/26503/12102) shows some historical data from the Moon. Insight will try to perform a similar measurement on Mars. But I think you would also benefit from a calculation/simulation and must may be one out there somewhere.
uhoh
<mars>
What is the temperature about 10 or 15 feet below Mars' surface?
phineas.garther
# What is the temperature about 10 or 15 feet below Mars' surface?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2019-05-22)

I was wondering this for a school paper I'm writing.

**Tags:** mars

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: just for background only, [this answer](https://space.stackexchange.com/a/26503/12102) shows some historical data from the Moon. Insight will try to perform a similar measurement on Mars. But I think you would also benefit from a calculation/simulation and must may be one out there somewhere.  

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## 2 answers

### Answer by username_2 on 2019-05-22. Score: 3

This is one of key questions that NASA's Mars InSight probe is trying to answer but it has only recently arrived and starting taking data and it will be a while before the data is analyzed and published in peer reviewed journals. The "mole" which would burrow below the surface and make the temperature measurements encountered some initial issues and NASA and the instrument's builders were running further tests and looking at those data before proceeding according to [this mission press release](https://mars.nasa.gov/news/8419/more-testing-for-mars-insights-mole/?site=insight).


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### Answer by username_3 on 2019-05-22. Score: 1

For a term-paper kind of answer you don't actually need to wait for Mars InSight to tell you. 15 feet is deep enough for you to able to assume that the temperature will be the *average* of temperatures on the surface.

So first find a graph of the temperature on a typical Martian spring or autumn day, then work out the average temperature over the 25 hours. That is a good first guess.

I think that 15 feet is deep enough for variations *across the year*, between summer and winter, to be averaged out fairly effectively as well, though that is something you may want to discuss a little in your paper. [This Wikipedia article about permafrost](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Permafrost) is worth reading to see how the Earth averages its own temperatures at depth over the course of a year.

On a planetary scale 15 feet is very shallow indeed, so the amount of heat flowing from the inside of Mars towards the surface will be tiny (this is what that InSight probe is measuring) and I would suggest mentioning it only in order to say that you are ignoring it.

> **Comments:**
> **username_4**: Maybe even find the gradient for sub-surface temps on Earth and then ratio them based on distance from the sun comparative to Mars for an experimental value! Obviously the material the soil is made of will attribute to the sub-surface temp, but the main difference will be sun-distance.  

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