Why does the Gobi Desert have large temperature changes between day and night?

The Gobi Desert experiences significant temperature fluctuations between day and night primarily due to its arid environment and lack of cloud cover. During the day, the absence of clouds allows high levels of solar radiation to reach the surface, causing temperatures to soar. Conversely, at night, that same lack of cloud cover allows for the rapid loss of energy through long-wave radiation back into the sky, leading to a dramatic drop in temperature.1

This effect is characteristic of many desert environments, where low atmospheric humidity and minimal vegetation prevent the retention of heat. In the case of the Gobi, these daily fluctuations are compounded by its high elevation and inland location, which isolate it from the moderating influences of the oceans. These factors combine to make the Gobi one of the most climatically extreme environments on Earth.12