Development of temperature patterns during clear nights

This paper examines nocturnal air temperature structure development in complex terrain. Clear nights were studied in order to compare the cooling rate in different topographical areas with a variety of land cover. It was found that large variations in temperature developed over a very short time period after sunset and that in situ cooling was the dominant factor causing this in valleys and other wind-sheltered locations. Shelter can be provided both from valley sides and from nearby trees with the main effect being to reduce the vertical mixing.