Global Warming Causes Nights To Become Hotter Than Days

A new study warns of global warming causing a “warming asymmetry” between days and nights. It suggests that compared to day-time temperatures, there is an increase in night-time temperatures.

Scientists from the University of Exeter researched data from 1983 to 2017 to come to this conclusion. They examined hourly records of temperature, humidity, cloud cover, and precipitation.

The study can be found in the Global Change Biology journal. In the study, they mentioned how they discovered a 0.25 Celcius-degree difference in annual temperature between days and nights. They observed the pattern in more than 50% of the global land surface.

The study emphasizes how daytime and night-time temperatures are being affected differently by global warming. In some areas, the temperatures during the nights rose more quickly. Meanwhile, night-time temperatures soar higher in other locations.

However, the total area of greater night-time warming was two times larger.

The study points to the changing levels of cloud cover as the reason for warming asymmetry between the temperatures of days and nights.

During the day, when a cloud cover increases, the surface is cool. However, at night, the same cloud cover will entrap heat, raising the temperature.

A decreased cloud cover during the day will allow more heat. But at night, the warmth is lost.

Warming asymmetry can potentially affect the natural world, especially species that are only active during the day or at night.

>>> We Just Experienced The Hottest January Ever Since 11,700 Years Ago