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which part of india does experience the highest diurnal range of temperature and why

The part of India that experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature is the north‑western desert region, especially the Thar Desert in western Rajasthan.

Which part of India experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature

and why?

Direct answer (for exams)

  • The north‑western part of India, especially the Thar Desert region of western Rajasthan , experiences the highest diurnal range of temperature.
  • In this region, daytime temperatures can reach about 50°C while night temperatures may fall to around 15°C , giving a very large difference between day and night.

You can safely write in an exam:

“The north‑western part of India, particularly the Thar Desert in Rajasthan, has the highest diurnal range of temperature because it is a sandy desert region located far from the sea, so sand heats up and cools down very quickly and there is no moderating influence of oceanic winds.”

Why is the diurnal range so high here?

1. Desert (sandy) surface

  • The Thar Desert is dominated by sand , which has low specific heat capacity – it heats up very fast during the day and cools very fast at night.
  • As a result, day temperatures shoot up sharply, and night temperatures drop quickly , creating a large diurnal range.

2. Continentality (far from the sea)

  • North‑western India lies far from the sea , so it does not receive the moderating influence of large water bodies.
  • Seas and oceans heat and cool slowly, so coastal regions have smaller differences between day and night temperatures, while interior desert areas have much larger differences.

3. Low humidity and clear skies

  • Desert air is very dry and cloudless , which allows intense heating in the daytime and rapid radiation of heat at night.
  • With few clouds and little water vapour to trap heat, the land loses heat quickly after sunset, so nights become much cooler than the days.

Mini recap (for quick revision)

  • Region: North‑western India, especially Thar Desert, western Rajasthan.
  • What happens: Very hot days (around 50°C) and much cooler nights (around 15°C).
  • Main reasons:
    1. Sandy desert surface – heats and cools quickly.
2. **Far from sea (continentality)** – no moderating effect of oceans.

3. **Dry air and clear skies** – strong daytime heating, rapid night cooling.

Bottom note: Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.