Step-by-step explanation:
In subtropical areas with mostly cloud-free conditions, the amount of solar radiation reaching the surface would be relatively high. Clouds act as a natural shield that reflects and scatters solar radiation back to space, reducing the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface. In the absence of significant cloud cover, more solar radiation would directly penetrate the atmosphere and reach the surface, leading to increased solar heating.
As a result of the high solar radiation reaching the surface, the temperature in such regions would tend to be higher compared to areas with more cloud cover. The direct and uninterrupted sunlight would lead to more efficient heating of the land and oceans, causing daytime temperatures to rise. Additionally, in the absence of clouds, there would be reduced insulation at night, allowing more heat to radiate back into space, leading to cooler nighttime temperatures compared to regions with cloud cover that trap more heat.
The combination of high solar radiation and reduced cloud cover contributes to the characteristic hot and dry conditions often experienced in subtropical regions. This is why many desert areas fall within the subtropical latitudes and experience extremely high temperatures during the day and significant cooling at night due to the absence of cloud cover.