Which of the following processes primarily accounts for the diurnal variation of surface temperature in arid desert regions, resulting in extremely high daytime temperatures and rapid radiative cooling after sunset?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Arid deserts experience large diurnal temperature ranges because dry air and cloudless skies provide virtually no greenhouse insulation. Low specific humidity means there is minimal water vapor to absorb incoming solar insolation or trap outgoing terrestrial longwave radiation, allowing rapid heating by day and swift cooling by night. High humidity zones moderate temperature fluctuations, while advection and volcanic conduction are not primary drivers of typical desert diurnal ranges. Desert soils also have low thermal inertia.