Table of Contents
- 1 What is the reason that air above the equator is heated more than at other places on Earth?
- 2 Why do higher elevations have colder temperatures?
- 3 Why does the climate differ from place to place?
- 4 Why does the equator receive more heat than areas further away from the Sun?
- 5 How is the equator related to the polar region?
What is the reason that air above the equator is heated more than at other places on Earth?
Different parts of Earth’s surface receive different amounts of sunlight. The sun’s rays strike Earth’s surface most directly at the equator. This focuses the rays on a small area. Because the rays hit more directly, the area is heated more.
Why do higher elevations have colder temperatures?
High-altitude locations are usually much colder than areas closer to sea level. This is due to the low air pressure. Air expands as it rises, and the fewer gas molecules—including nitrogen, oxygen, and carbon dioxide—have fewer chances to bump into each other.
What happens as warm air rises and cools over the equator?
Along the equator air is rising as it is warmed by solar radiation (section 8.2). So the air rising at the equator is warm and full of water vapor; as it rises into the upper atmosphere it cools, and the cool air can no longer hold as much water vapor, so the water condenses and forms rain.
Which factors contribute to the uneven heating of the earth?
The factors that contribute to the uneven heating of the Earth by the sun include latitude, seasons, and the time of the day.
Why does the climate differ from place to place?
Essentially, there arc two main reasons that climate varies from place to place; first, the amount of energy arriving from the sun, and second the circulation of the atmosphere and oceans which carry heat and moisture from one placc to another.
Why does the equator receive more heat than areas further away from the Sun?
No matter which pole is tilted towards or away from the the sun, the equator is always receiving pretty much the same amount of sunlight year round. Therefore, it gets more heat than other portions of the planet. The earth is obviously curved.
Why are the Poles Cold and the equator Hot?
Since the energy absorbed per unit area is proportional to cos θ, θ being the angle of incidence, this explains why the poles are so cold while the equator is so hot. θ depends basically on the latitude λ, is equal to λ or close to it. Because of the tilt of the earth’s axis.
How does the sun shine at the equator?
While the sun shines almost equally in all parts of the earth, the equator is exposed to a high amount of direct sunlight than the poles. While the sun is directly overhead at the equator, it is slightly slanted at the poles. The earth is tilted 23.5 degrees on its axis and remains tilted throughout the year.
The area that receives direct light rays is the equator while the other surface that receives light rays “indirectly” is the polar region. When the sun’s rays reach the earth, some of it is reflected back to the atmosphere and does not get to warm the area.