Answered: How do surface air temperatures differ…

9th Edition

ISBN:9780134746241

Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa

Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals

Section: Chapter Questions

Problem 1LR

Related questions

Question

How do surface air temperatures differ on cloudly nights versus clear nights?

Expert Solution

Step 1

Cloudy nights are warmer compared to clear cloudless nights because clouds reflect back the heat given off by the earth.
- At night cloud cover has the opposite effect.
- If skies are clear, the heat emitted from the earth\'s surface freely escapes into space, resulting in colder temperatures.
- However, if clouds are present, some of the heat emitted from the earth\'s surface is trapped by the clouds and remitted back towards the earth.
- If skies are clear, more heat reaches the ground leading to warmer temperatures.

On cloudy days, clouds reflect the sun's light into space, keeping much of the energy away from the surface and leading to cooler temperatures.
The airborne water molecules are called water vapor.
When the molecules are bouncing around in the atmosphere, they don't normally stick together.
Clouds on Earth form when warm air rises and its pressure is reduced.
The air expands and cools, and clouds form as the temperature drops below the dew point.
When it is cloudy, the clouds absorb (hold) some of the heat so it can't escape. Clouds also reflect some of the heat back towards the earth.
Sometimes it gets even warmer on cloudy days because of advection.
Advection is the movement of heat, cold, and moisture when air moves (when there is wind).