KelvinSkala

KelvinSkala is a fictional or speculative temperature scale described in collaborative encyclopedic and science fiction contexts. It preserves the core idea of an absolute-zero reference point and a linear relation to thermodynamic temperature, but introduces a distinct subunit called the sk. In this system, 1 sk is defined as 0.01 kelvin, making KelvinSkala effectively a centi-kelvin subdivision of the Kelvin scale. Absolute zero remains 0 sk, and temperatures can be related to Celsius by the formula C = (KS / 100) − 273.15, where KS denotes temperature in centi-kelvin units.

Originating in online discussions and educational thought experiments in the early 2010s, KelvinSkala is not used in official metrology. Proponents argue that the finer subdivision offers intuitive readability for high-precision measurements and can aid teaching by providing large, easily comparable numbers in everyday ranges. Critics contend that introducing a parallel scale adds confusion and diverges from established international standards.

In practice within its fictional or hypothetical framing, measuring devices and data sets might report values in KS with the sk as the unit, and converters are supplied to translate to kelvin or Celsius. While the scheme is designed to be compatible with SI through a straightforward scaling factor, it is not recognized by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures or national metrology laboratories, and it remains confined to speculative or educational use.

See also: Kelvin, Celsius, temperature scales, metrology, and thermodynamics.