Shouldn't the huge mass of the earth keep the air at a relatively constant temp. Why the large swings of 20-30-40 degrees--day vs nite?

Maybe the Sun is not a burning ball of gas 93 million miles away.

How quickly does a pot turned off on the stove become tepid and safe enough to touch?

the temp in space is around minus 450 degrees Fahrenheit. cold on one side of the atmosphere, warm on the other. shits gonna happen.

Who givez a shit OP?

It just does..

Lets just blame climate change and Trump. Is that what you want to hear?? I will not, I am not a huge fan of Koolaid.

Idk for sure, but I'd guess that in the scheme of things it really isn't losing much temap difference, just what seems like a big difference to life. Considering the sheer range of possible temps present in our solar system 40 degree fluxuation is puny on a scale larger than a living thing.

Interesting but how about the question---how quickly does a rock the size of the earth gain or lose temperature?

Even though winter solstice is December 21 in northern hemisphere the average coldest day of the year in North America is January 30th plus or minus a couple days each year. Likewise hottest temperatures ( end of July) are typically 5 or 6 weeks after the summer solstice on June 21.

A significant lag time for cooling and warming the earth rock.

There ya go OP.

[link to www.temperature.global]

I'm referring more to a short timeframe of a day or so. On a zero wind day and nite, with the ground temp being almost constant and radiating infrared radiation constantly into the air, why does the air temp drop 20-30-40 degrees? Even the air close to the ground.

"Large swings of 20-30-40 degrees"

Large swings !!!

Same as "Global Warming" scam you all buy into- Have you any idea what top and bottom temps can be in this universe ??

also any idea what a "strong" wind speed can be ?

This planets temp fluctuates by next to nothing in the scheme of things - but if it goes up by 1 degree - woe is me - the sky is falling - it's global warming etc etc !!

I posed this question just out of interest in the physics of it. The reason for the question has no bearing to the concept of global warming. The 20-30-40 degree air temp daily swing question is in relation to humans, other creatures and plants here on earth.

40 degrees isn't really much of a difference when you consider the extremes on other planets in the solar system.

Of course.

The air temp drops with altitude, even during daylight. It also drops at higher latitudes depending upon the seasons. Why do you think glaciers are located on mountain peaks, North of the Arctic circle and miles thick ice caps in Antarctica? The air temp drops without sunlight and air doesn't retain heat as much as denser matter (water, metal) You should demand a refund from your university.

Altitude Air Temp
(feet) (F)
0 59
5000 41.17
10000 23.36
15000 5.55
20000 -12.26
25000 -30.05
30000 -47.83
35000 -65.61
40000 -69.70
45000 -69.70
50000 -69.70

The Earth dos NOT gain or lose temp that quickly. It is the atmosphere with quick changes(Earth retains heat the "air" not so much). Yes the energy from the Sun has that much effect. In fact it is the root cause of all weather patterns.

Interestingly, the air temp then goes back up the higher you go.

Sea level 60 F
20 miles up -70 F
35 miles up 40 F
55 miles up -120 F
75 miles up -20 F
375 miles up 4,530 F with sunlight

[link to en.wikipedia.org (secure)]

[link to www.apiste-global.com]

Moreover, the OP is not aware of the huge amount of energy from the sun falling on the face of planet Earth each day - when it's in sunlight - influenced by the tilt of the Earth and how direct that energy is or isn't?

The tilt of the Earth is why the Northern hemisphere is less warm during this time of the year compared with the Southern hemisphere.

.

The air is like a vast ocean with currents and tides and all sorts of ocean-like behaviors, in a much less dense sort of way.

Ask yourself why when you go into the ocean sometimes it's cold sometimes it's warm and sometimes there are currents of both at the same time.



Sometimes you can see the air's "waves" in the clouds.. fun stuff.