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Heat can be transferred by three methods.

"Conduction" transfers heat through physical contact. The electric element on the stove heats up, and a pot touching the element also gets hot.

"Convection" transfers heat when a fluid like water or air is heated by conduction, and then the hot fluid travels someplace else and warms something over there. If you have old-fashioned "radiator" heaters in your house or apartment building, a boiler in the basement heats up the water, the water flows through the pipes to the radiator, and the radiator also gets hot.

Once the radiator is hot, it "radiates" the heat energy to you. The energy travels through the air, or through space, at a rate that depends on the differences between the hot item and the cool one.

In weather, we know that a sunny day allows sunshine (also known as "solar heat") to radiate freely from the Sun to the Earth's surface. If it's a clear night, then heat can radiate away into empty space. "Empty space" has no real temperature at all, so the difference in temperature is between a nice day and the absolute zero of outer space, a difference of about 300 degrees.

But if the evening is cloudy, the Earth is still "nice", about 20 degrees C (or about 60 degrees F) and the heat that is radiated from the Earth is radiating to the cloud layer which is probably not much below -10C or 10F, for a difference of only 30-40 degrees; a MUCH lower difference!

So on a clear night, the temperature falls a lot, and falls quickly - even if the day had been quite hot. Desert days can be VERY hot, with temperatures between 35C and 45C, about 95 to 120F. But when the Sun goes down with no clouds, the Earth cools off rapidly, and falls to near freezing.

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Is it true that nighttime air temperatures on a cloudy night are lower than they would be on a clear night?

Typically, nighttime air temperatures on a cloudy night are higher than they would be on a clear night. This is because the surface of the earth radiates back heat toward the sky. If the sky is clear, much heat can be lost. However, if it is cloudy, it can keep some of that heat back in. Making the temperatures warmer.


Why is it more likely to be frosty on a clear night than on a cloudy night?

Since clouds are cool moist air, and cold air is heavier than warm air, the cloud cover holds down the warmth that accumulates during the day and keeps the ambient temperature slightly higher over night.


Why does it get hotter at night?

It does not necessarily get hotter at night. The temperature can vary depending on various factors such as cloud cover, humidity, and wind patterns. At night, the lack of sunlight can cause temperatures to drop, but other factors can also influence the temperature.


Why do people often experience feeling hot at night?

People often feel hot at night because their body temperature naturally rises during sleep, their bedding or room temperature may be too warm, or they may be experiencing hormonal changes or illness that can cause night sweats.


What happens to the temperature when clouds are out at night?

The presence of clouds at night can act as a blanket, trapping heat and preventing it from escaping into the atmosphere. This can lead to a milder temperature compared to clear nights when heat escapes more easily.

Related Questions

What is the difference in temperature on a clear night and cloudy night?

On a clear night, temperatures tend to drop more rapidly as heat escapes into the atmosphere. Cloudy nights act as a blanket, trapping some heat and causing temperatures to not drop as much as on clear nights. This can result in warmer temperatures on cloudy nights compared to clear nights.


What is the name of this type of special light?

On Earth on a clear night the temperature drops more than on a cloudy night why


Why is it clear night is more cooler than a cloudy night?

During a clear night, heat from the surface of the Earth radiates out into space since there are no clouds to trap it. Clouds act as a blanket, trapping heat near the surface and preventing it from escaping, which leads to warmer temperatures on cloudy nights compared to clear nights.


Is it true that nighttime air temperatures on a cloudy night are lower than they would be on a clear night?

Typically, nighttime air temperatures on a cloudy night are higher than they would be on a clear night. This is because the surface of the earth radiates back heat toward the sky. If the sky is clear, much heat can be lost. However, if it is cloudy, it can keep some of that heat back in. Making the temperatures warmer.


What is more likely to be frosty on a clear night than a cloudy night?

On a clear night. Clouds will prevent the heat that the earth has collected during the day because of the sun, to evaporate at night.


Can one use whereas in a sentence?

On a clear night you can easily study the stars whereas on a cloudy night it is quite difficult.


Why are cloudy night warmer than clear night?

because of the greenhouse effect


How does a cloudy night and a clear night relate to the greenhouse effect?

Both water vapor and clouds are great greenhouse gasses, they block the loss of heat into outer space (at night).


Which of the following bset describes the general air temperature on a cloudy night?

DreamCloud: the luxury hybrid mattress combining the best of latex, memory foam, tufting and coil technology to provide the best sleep money can buy. cutt.ly/Ih6JT7s


When it is cloudy many of the Suns rays never read the earth what does this do to the temperature?

When it is cloudy, the clouds act as a barrier that reflects and absorbs some of the Sun's rays, preventing them from reaching the Earth's surface. This can lead to cooler temperatures during the day, as less solar radiation warms the ground. However, at night, clouds can trap heat, making nighttime temperatures warmer compared to clear nights. Overall, cloudy conditions generally result in a moderation of temperature fluctuations.


Why is it more likely to be a frosty night in winter if the sky is clear?

When sky is clear the heat from earth will radiate to space and cool the night air faster. If cloudy the heat radiated is reflected back from clouds and it does not get so cool


Why is it more likely to be frosty on a clear night than on a cloudy night?

Since clouds are cool moist air, and cold air is heavier than warm air, the cloud cover holds down the warmth that accumulates during the day and keeps the ambient temperature slightly higher over night.