Consider the characteristics of diurnal temperature range and humidity in desert climates: 1. Clear skies and dry air permit rapid solar insolation during the day. 2. Low specific humidity causes high terrestrial radiation loss after sunset. 3. Maritime air masses moderate the temperature extremes consistently throughout the year. Which of the statements given above are correct?

💡 Solution & Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because clear skies without cloud cover allow maximum insolation to reach the desert surface during daytime. Statement 2 is correct because dry air containing minimal water vapor fails to absorb terrestrial longwave radiation effectively, leading to rapid cooling at night and wide diurnal temperature ranges. Statement 3 is incorrect because deserts are typically characterized by continental interiors or the influence of stable descending dry air rather than maritime moderating effects. Specific humidity determines atmospheric heat retention capacity.