Why are cloudy nights warmer?
By mercuryman3a
@mercuryman3a (2477)
India
January 23, 2009 4:07am CST
You will generally find that cloudy nights are warmer than clear nights. Why is it so? Is it because the cloud cover provides a shield to the earth from the ravages of the sky? or is it taht the clouds act as insulators and do not permit heat to escape?
1 response
@antioxidant (438)
• Australia
23 Jan 09
Heat from sun rays during the day warms up the earth and is trapped in the ground and if it's cloudless during the day it's warmer from more direct rays. At night when it's cloudy heat from the earth rises but is reflected back down due to cloud covers. The clouds prevent much of the warm air from leaving the atmosphere. Thus cloudy nights are warmer and cloudy days are cooler.
