On Sun, 29 Apr 2007 07:53:45 GMT, Paul Hyett
wrote:

What is the mechanism by which the temperature *rises* when clouds come
over on otherwise clear nights*?

Common sense suggests that the most they could do would be to halt the
drop in temperature. After all, a rise in temperature *should* require a
heat source, and those are absent at night.

*I'm referring to nights with no frontal activity, of course.

The fact that the weather changed "when clouds come over" tells you
that a front or weather cell of some sort moved in.

Notice that I specifically referred to nights *without* frontal
activity, though...

How can "clouds come over" if there is not some kind of frontal
activity.

Perhaps the term "front" is incorrect. What I was alluding to is
something like our Gulf Breeze along the Texas coast. It is not
referred to as a front per se, but it does act like one when it sweeps
the area, raising the DPT because of the increase in moisture.

The point is that something from the outside has come into the
picture.


--

"Perhaps the meek shall inherit the Earth, but they'll do it
in very small plots - about 6' by 3'."
-- Robert A. Heinlein