In the Heat of the Night

Another complication to the climate change picture. It is reported that, in more than half of the world's terrestrial locations investigated, the increase in temperature at night was at least 0.25 degrees C higher than that seen in the day (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/oct/01/global-heating-warming-up-nights-faster-than-days). This pattern is not seen in all parts of the world. It is prominent in western South America, Europe, West Africa and central Asia. But day temperatures are increasing, to a greater extent than nights, in Mexico, Southern USA and the Middle East. These are well-established patterns as the study looked at 35 years of temperature readings. The reasons for the temperature patterns appear to be linked to climate change's effects on cloud formation. Where cloud cover increases, solar gain in the day is reduced (lowering day time temperatures). The blanket of cloud, however, retains heat and humidity which is released at night (increasing the night time temperatures). The temperature changes make it difficult for organisms to adapt. It appears that plants (including crops) generally showing reduced growth in response to either pattern of change. Some animals increased their night-time hunting as the nights warmed up. A pattern of hotter nights suggests that animals (including humans) may not be able to use that time to cool down, after exposure to hot day-time temperatures.