How to survive the heatwave: Stay cool when temperatures soar up to 32 degrees The Concept of 32 Degrees Definition and Origins 1. The term “32 degrees” refers to the freezing point of water, which is equivalent to 0 degrees Celsius or 32 degrees Fahrenheit. 2. The Fahrenheit Temperature Scale, developed in the early 1800s by Daniel Gabriel Fahrenheit, was the inspiration for the concept of measuring temperature with a scale that includes a 32 degree range. 3. Fahrenheit selected 32 as the freezing temperature of water and 212 for the boiling temperature at standard atmospheric tension. The difference between