qThe very strong downward emission of terrestrial
radiation from the
atmosphere is crucial to main the relatively small diurnal variation of surface temperature.
qIf this large downward
radiation is not larger than solar heating of the surface, the surface temperature would warm
rapidly during the day and cool
rapidly at the night.
q č a large diurnal variation of surface temperature.
qThe greenhouse effect
not only keeps Earth’s surface warm but also limit the amplitude of the diurnal temperature
variation at the surface.