The altimeter is calibrated to standard atmosphere conditions and most of the time the environment is close enough to standard for any temperature induced errors to be minimal.

• When the environment is warmer than standard, the aircraft will be higher than indicated, usually a safe error.
• When the environment is colder than standard, the aircraft will be lower than indicated and this potentially a dangerous error. Temperature errors need to be taken into account when landing in very cold conditions. A temperature correction to the DH/DA or MDA/MDH and step-down fixes inside the Final Approach Fix (FAF) must be added in this case.

According to ICAO-Doc 8168-Vol.1-Flight Procedures-Part 1-Section 4-Ch. 1:

• The flight crew is responsible for any necessary Temperature Error Correction to all all published minimum altitudes/heights including the altitudes/heights for the initial and intermediate segments; the DA/DH and subsequent missed approach altitudes/heights except for APV/BARO-VNAV approach procedures.