Laying Some Groundwork: Balancing Radiation


radiation well and re-radiates a portion back toward the surface. Thus, the surface generally regains more of its lost heat radiation on humid or cloudy nights, and therefore, the air in contact with the surface cools more slowly. Maximum radiational cooling of the surface and the surface air is observed on long, clear nights with low humidity, and cooling under these conditions is often rapid.

In future essays, I will show how this nocturnal radiational cooling produces both radiation fog and radiation frost.

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