Here is a list of the current world records for track and filed events:
In common events, the outdoor records are always better then indoors. Why? With running races, more curves probably makes a difference. And wind-aided outdoor records are thrown out so wind shouldn’t be the reason.
The curves (not only more of them, but tighter ones) explains why running records are better outdoors.
For field events, I can’t explain the shot put, but for the other events, I think it has to do with the surfaces used for the run-ups. Remember that most indoor track meets are held in buildings that are not dedicated to indoor track, so everything has to be removable, and there’s going to be some “bounce” to all of the surfaces.
Couldn’t it still be wind? Records are only thrown out if the wind is about a limit (2.0 m/s from what I’m reading).
Wind is only a factor in the sprints and jumps. Races of one lap or more evens out the effect of the wind.
Throwing the discus into a light wind will increase it’s distance.
2.0 m/s is a very light wind-about 4.4 mph.
Another factor could be that the biggest meets (such as Olympic competitions) are held outdoors, and many athletes use the indoor season (winter) to “tune up” so that they will be at peak level for the spring and summer open-air events.
So no definitive answer yet? I would think that those “in the know” in Track and Field would have a generally-accepted reason for the record differences. Are we even sure that the track curves are the reason for the running records being slower indoors? In a theoretical indoor track shaped like an outdoor track, would records even out, or is there something about open air that allows an athlete to perform better?
The tight corners are the main reason. If the curves weren’t banked, the times would be even slower. The official records are set on a 160 yrd. track(11 laps/mile). Other records are noted if on an over sized track(200/300 meter).
Take a look at this video of a tiny(84 meter) track. Notice how the runners have to round the corners. The winner has a best 800m time of 1:52 yet he runs a 4:45 mile in the video.
It’s a combination of the size of the track (number of turns and tightness of the turns) and the fact that the indoor season is not the time when athletes are trying to be in peak physical condition to run/jump/throw their best.
Indoor season is during the conditioning phase of training, and many athletes train right through indoor competitions–without tapering their training in any way to improve their meet performances.
When athletes start to taper for championship meets outdoors–then their marks almost always improve.
It is possible to peak for the indoor season and again for the outdoor. College and world class athletes do it all the time. If you look at the world records, the indoor field events are very close to the outdoor marks.
There are also records that are only(or mostly) contested indoors.