地球系统包含大气圈、岩石圈、水圈、生物圈等多圈层内部和圈层之间千变万化的地质、物理、化学、生物等作用过程和相互制约,基本上所有的作用和制约过程都伴随着能量传递,因而与温度有着密切联系.随着全球气候变化的加剧.大气温度和海洋温度变化已经引起人们的广泛关注,而地温变化及其在地球系统研究中的作用还没得到应有的重视.作者从地表温度对大气热力学状态的可能影响、地温变化与古气候变化的关系、地温异常与地震的可能联系、人类活动对地温的影响等角度论述长期地温监测在地球科学研究中的重要意义,建议采取措施确实加强地温监测与研究,以适应地球系统研究的需要,促进相关地球科学研究领域更快、更深入地发展. “,”Earth system is a dynamic system encompassing interactions among various components across atmosphere, lithosphere, hydrosphere, and biosphere. In principle, all the interactions involve energy exchanges and, therefore, are accompanied by temperature variations. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to understand the causes and consequences of temperature changes in the atmosphere and oceans. In comparison, very little has been done to address the role of ground temperature in earth system. Taking the effect of ground temperature changes on the thermal dynamics of the atmosphere, the subsurface temperature record of climate change, the possible relationship between geothermal anomalies and earthquakes, and the geothermal signature of human activities, this paper emphasizes the great importance of iong-term ground temperature in earth science. Temperature is a fundamental parameter controlling various physical, chemical, and biological processes that affect subsurface environment, as well as the earth system as a whole. The authors urge efforts to promote long-term subsurface temperature monitoring to foster both fundamental science and practical application of earth system research.