Diurnal Variations

Diurnal variations are changes in environmental or biological conditions which occur on a daily or 24-hour basis. These variations are often caused by the rising and setting of the sun, and are most visible in the changing of temperatures and light levels. Diurnal variations are important to many organisms, influencing the timing of their daily behaviors and allowing them to take advantage of daylight hours or cooler evening temperatures. Understanding diurnal variations can also help researchers quantify the impacts of climate change on organisms, inform conservation and management plans, and increase crop yields by optimizing planting and harvesting times.