Question

What is the diurnal range of temperature?
A)Difference in the maximum and minimum temperature of the day
B)Difference in the maximum and minimum temperature of the week
C)Difference in the maximum and minimum temperature of the month
D)Difference in the maximum and minimum temperature of the year

Answer 1

Hint :
The term ‘Diurnal’ refers to any pattern that reoccurs after every 24 hours as a result of Earth rotation on its own axis.
Diurnal temperature varies greatly at the Earth’ surface and not so much as we move away from the surface.

Complete answer :
The diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the maximum and the minimum temperatures of the day.
The highest temperature of the day occurs immediately after the afternoon, as the air keeps absorbing heat till noon.
Similarly, the lowest temperature of the day occurs at dawn, as the air loses heat all throughout the night.
These temperatures may vary because of factors like water bodies, soil type, wind, cloud, moisture in the air and on the ground.
The diurnal temperature varies greatly near the Earth’s surface and not so much as we go away from the surface.
The desert regions have great diurnal temperature variation.
On the contrary, low-lying humid areas have the least diurnal temperature variation.
Therefore, we can say that as the humidity increases (since humidity traps the sun’s heat), the diurnal temperature variation decreases, and vice versa.
The diurnal temperature also increases as the distance from the sea increases. Near the sea, the sea breeze and the land breeze contribute to maintaining an equilibrium of temperature throughout the day and the night. These breezes are not available in areas away from the sea and hence experience extreme temperatures, thus increasing the diurnal range of temperature.

Option A,is the correct answer.

Note :
Students must know the difference between the two ranges of temperature i.e. Annual and Diurnal.
As per their names ``Diurnal” implies daily, while “annual” implies yearly.
Diurnal range of temperature is the difference between the maximum and minimum temperatures recorded in a day, while the Annual range of temperature is the difference of maximum and minimum temperatures recorded over a year.