This process does not change temperature, but it is enormously important in regulating air temperature and driving the water cycle. Daytime surplus warms the top of the lithosphere, nighttime deficit cools off the top of the lithosphere. This is called ground heat flux . F. Contrast means of dissipating surface radiation surplus between desert and tropical rainforest 1. Tropical desert - very little water around to evaporate or condense.
Most heat transfer occurs by convection, or sensible heating and cooling.
Gets very hot in daytime, cools down dramatically at night. Tropical rainforest - most surplus energy used to evaporate water. Latent heat flux dominates. Daytime highs not excessive, doesn't cool down much at night.