How does the spherical shape of Earth affect the distribution of solar energy?
Uneven spread of solar energy across different latitudes
Because Earth is a sphere, the Sun’s rays strike its surface at different angles at different latitudes. Near the equator the rays fall almost vertically, while towards the poles they become more and more slanting.
Vertical rays concentrate the same amount of energy on a small area and pass through a shorter path in the atmosphere, so heating is strong. Slanting rays spread the same energy over a larger area and travel a longer path through the atmosphere, so heating is weak.
So the insolation received decreases from the equator towards the poles, which is why the tropics are hot and the polar regions are cold.
The poles therefore get the least, not the most, effective sunlight. Day length varies with latitude and season because of the tilt of Earth’s axis, so it is not identical everywhere, and all areas are clearly not equally warm.
Hence, Uneven spread of solar energy across different latitudes.
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In which of the following atmospheric layers ozone gas is concentrated?
Ozone layer depletion is a major phenomenon in :
By which layer of the atmosphere the ultra-violet rays are absorbed ?
The layer of very rare air above the mesosphere is called the _____________.
Air moves from the region where the air _______.
