Differential variations of maximum and minimum temperatures

We present some analysis which shows generally how maximum (or peak daytime) sensible energy at a given location and minimum (or lowest night-time) sensible energy at the same location vary relative to each other. Then we show that daytime warming is not always in phase with night-time temperature increases. Furthermore we establish both theoretically and by means of actual records that major changes in mean minimum temperature variations at a given location are followed after time tau by (associated) major changes in mean maximum temperature variations at the same location. The value of parameter tau, which is apparently independent of the choice of the location involved, is found to be approximately eight years. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.