Lunar influence on diurnal temperature range

While variations in the diurnal temperature range (DTR) have been linked to atmospheric enhancement of greenhouse gases, it is useful to identify all contributing factors potentially acting upon the DTR. In this study, an are a-weighted record of daily temperatures from the United States Historical C limate Network is used to examine the influence of lunar phase variations o n the DTR. For the period from 1950 to 1995, a statistically significantly higher DTR occurs near the full moon (similar to 10.23 degrees C) while a l ower DTR occurs near the new moon (similar to 10.13"C). This synodic monthl y difference appears to be primarily influenced by warmer maximum daily tem peratures occurring near the full moon. This finding allows evaluation of t wo potential extraterrestrial factors influencing terrestrial temperatures as a function of lunar phase: a) the barycenter effect which is defined as variations in terrestrial and lunar position around their mutual gravitatio nal centroid over the course of synodic month, and b) reflected solar / inf rared emission off the lunar surface over the course of a synodic month. Wh ile both the barycenter effect and the reflected solar and infrared emissio n off the lunar surface would influence the minimum temperatures, we sugges t that the barycenter effect is likely the dominating extraterrestrial mech anism in explaining lunar phase variations in the diurnal temperature range because its additional influence on daily maximum temperatures.