Why does it get colder after sunrise?

Quote by stephanie


OOH I KNOW THIS ONE!!!

(It's because when the SUN rises it heats up and diffuses the clouds that act as an INSULATOR that keeps the heat in. Over hours, the natural warmth of the sun heats up the Earth and cloud formations adapt, re-form and keep that heat in... BUT, upon morning as the sun re-arises, it burns off the cloud cover so we lose the accumulated heat. So mornings are colder, although as day progresses it gets warmer again.)

I lived in MAROC for some years and in the Sahara, where there is little cloud, it's FREEZING at nights even in high-summer. But within minutes of sun-up, (given its location) it's hot as buggery again. (I've seen hoar-frost on sand dunes... It's the coolest thing!) Accidental pun there.

xx SF

Quote by SereneProdigy
I have a much simpler explanation...

First off, the sun is what provides the most heat for the Earth. After sunset, the sun isn't there anymore to provide heat and the Earth slowly loses the heat it has accumulated during the day; just before sunrise, the sun has been out for the longest amount time, hence why it's the coldest part of the day.

You're wrong to assume that 'it's noticeably colder when it gets light'. Take a look at this graph, and you'll notice that the outside temperature drops at a steady rate during the night; there isn't any instant phenomenon that provokes a sudden drop of temperature at this time of the day:

Quote by DanielleX
What was the location where these data were taken? Also, I'm suggesting it feels cooler, i.e. it's a perceived phenomenon. I accept it might not be actually colder.

Quote by oshkrozz
It does depend where you live, and what direction the air moves (does it sweep warm air off water or cold air ...) around here in the winter if we get a southern (ie coming from the south) wind it will bring slightly warm air (and wet ...) and if we get air from the north over the ohio valley it will be quite cold so the morning can start off at 40 and drop to 30 by noon .. or the opposite.

The only thing I look for is ice when I go for a morning run, black ice is never fun ...

Quote by BethanyFrasier
You're running. The sun comes up. You sweat. The sun creates thermals as heat rises off surfaces heated by the sun. Thermals create surface breezes, as cooler ground-level air rushes in to equalize the lower pressure created when the thermals rise from the surface. These breezes hit your sweating body and create wind-chill skin-cooling, which your body interprets as colder air.

Or...

You're just imagining it. :-)

Quote by DanielleX
I have emailed the Met Office about this. I will post their reply here when it comes x

Quote by dpw

They're going to love you, lol. Hope you put MP after your name.

Quote by LYFBUZ
Actually over the course of the day billions of hot little sun particles run away from the sun looking for even hotter sex. Those that make it to planet Earth often lose their way, especially if they cross paths with Lushies. After a night of debauchery they are anxious to return home to the sun to rest. In the morning the billions of hot little particles race homeward, toward the rising sun. This causes an immediate drop in temperature. Below is a picture of some captured particles. If you would like a closer look I keep them in my bedroom...

Quote by DanielleX


My MP is Lucina Berger, she's quite hot in some photos ;)

Quote by dpw

Hi neighbour, she's mine as well. I met her more than once, she is very attractive.

Quote by stephanie


My God it's come to this.

(We are talking about the weather...)

We USED to talk about sexier things???

xx SF *giggles!*

dpw: "You are so BUTCH when you giggle..."

Me: "Fuck You!"

Quote by tiddlywink
I can certainly tell you why we feel colder when we wake up in the morning.

A contributing factor is that our body temperature lowers ever so slightly during sleep. Also, our heart rate and circulation slows. In the morning after waking it takes a while for the circulation to come back.

In fact many of the body's functions slow down -- you don't need them as much during sleep.