Why can temperatures in the Karakum Desert change greatly within a single day?

The Karakum Desert experiences significant temperature fluctuations within a single day primarily due to its continental climate and a lack of cloud cover.31

During the day, the absence of clouds allows high levels of solar radiation to reach and heat the desert surface. Conversely, at night, that same lack of cloud cover allows for the rapid loss of energy through long-wave radiation into the sky, causing temperatures to drop dramatically. This cycle is characteristic of many desert environments, where the low atmospheric humidity and clear skies prevent the retention of heat after sunset.2

In the Karakum Desert, these factors can lead to extreme daily shifts; for instance, temperatures have been recorded fluctuating by as much as 54 °F (30 °C)—from as low as −4 °F (−20 °C) to 50 °F (10 °C)—within a 24-hour period.3