A method for context-aware thermal management in a portable computing device, PCD, the method comprising: defining a context variable set, wherein the context variable set is associated with an external environment to which the PCD is exposed; establishing baseline values for the context variable set, wherein the baseline values are associated with a baseline context; monitoring a set of context sensors to recognize the baseline values; in response to recognizing the baseline values, executing a known workload having a known power envelope; generating a baseline thermal map from temperature readings monitored during execution of the known workload; storing the baseline thermal map in association with the baseline values for the context variable set; monitoring the set of context sensors to recognize discovered values for the context variable set, wherein the discovered values are different from the baseline values; in response to recognizing the discovered values, executing the known workload; generating a discovered thermal map from temperature readings monitored during execution of the known workload; comparing the discovered thermal map with the baseline thermal map to determine a designation of the discovered values for the context variable set as either a "beneficial" context or an "adverse" context relative to the baseline values for the context variable set; storing in a context database the discovered values for the context variable set in association with the determined designation; monitoring the set of context sensors to recognize a next occurrence of the discovered values; in response to recognizing the next occurrence of the discovered values, querying the context database to determine the designation associated with the discovered values; and based on the designation, modifying a thermal management policy. defining a context variable set, wherein the context variable set is associated with an external environment to which the PCD is exposed; establishing baseline values for the context variable set, wherein the baseline values are associated with a baseline context; monitoring a set of context sensors to recognize the baseline values; in response to recognizing the baseline values, executing a known workload having a known power envelope; generating a baseline thermal map from temperature readings monitored during execution of the known workload; storing the baseline thermal map in association with the baseline values for the context variable set; monitoring the set of context sensors to recognize discovered values for the context variable set, wherein the discovered values are different from the baseline values; in response to recognizing the discovered values, executing the known workload; generating a discovered thermal map from temperature readings monitored during execution of the known workload; comparing the discovered thermal map with the baseline thermal map to determine a designation of the discovered values for the context variable set as either a "beneficial" context or an "adverse" context relative to the baseline values for the context variable set; storing in a context database the discovered values for the context variable set in association with the determined designation; monitoring the set of context sensors to recognize a next occurrence of the discovered values; in response to recognizing the next occurrence of the discovered values, querying the context database to determine the designation associated with the discovered values; and based on the designation, modifying a thermal management policy.