Acoustic temperature measurement at a remote location is provided. An
acoustic source transmits acoustic radiation to an acoustic receiver
along an acoustic path. The path passes through or near the remote
location. The temperature is non-uniform along the path. A change in an
integrated acoustic delay between the source and receiver along the path
is measured. This acoustic delay can be either a phase velocity delay or
a group velocity delay. The temperature at the remote location is
determined by relating the measured change in integrated acoustic delay
to the remote location temperature with a combined thermal-acoustic
model. The combined model relates temperature to acoustic propagation
velocity along the path. The combined model preferably includes
temperatures of the source and receiver locations, and a heat source
geometry at the remote location.