Why do you think the Southern Hemisphere reflects so much more solar radiation than the Northern Hemisphere during the December solstice? This illustration might help you. The Southern Hemisphere simply has more sunlight to reflect ! The winter solstice is the longest day of the year in the Southern Hemisphere.
Why does the South Pole receive slightly more insolation in December than the North Pole receives in June?
The Southern Hemisphere receives more energy during December (southern summer) than the Northern Hemisphere does in June (northern summer) because Earth’s orbit is not a perfect circle and Earth is slightly closer to the Sun during that part of its orbit .
Why does the North and South Pole of the Earth receive less insolation than the equator?
It receives less solar radiation than the equator because the angle of incidence is much smaller . The sun’s rays do not strike the Earth’s surface as directly at the North Pole; they are less focused. ... The difference in the amount of solar energy the land receives causes the atmosphere to move the way it does.
Why is insolation greatest at the equator?
Annual insolation is very high at the Equator because the Sun passes directly overhead at noon every day throughout the year . ... So even though the pole does not receive direct sunlight for six months of the year, it still receives nearly half the amount of annual solar radiation as the Equator.
Why does the Northern Hemisphere receive more sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere?
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun , that part of the Earth receives more direct rays of sunlight during the daytime than the Southern Hemisphere does. The Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and therefore, receives the sun’s rays at an angle.
At what angle of insolation is strongest?
The intensity of insolation is greatest on the equator. This is because the angle. of the sun is higher, at close to 90 .
Which is colder north or South Pole?
The Short Answer: Both the Arctic (North Pole) and the Antarctic (South Pole) are cold because they don’t get any direct sunlight. However, the South Pole is a lot colder than the North Pole .
What part of the Earth gets the most direct sunlight?
During the summer solstice, the Sun shines most directly on the Tropic of Cancer , 23.5 degrees north of the equator, giving its most direct energy on Earth to the Northern Hemisphere.
What are three main things that affect the insolation on Earth?
- Rotation of the earth on its axis. ...
- The angle of incidence of the sun’s rays. ...
- Duration of the day. ...
- Transparency of the atmosphere.
How does the shape of the Earth affect insolation?
The Spherical Shape of the Earth. Because the Earth is a sphere, the surface gets much more intense sunlight (heat) at the equator than at the poles . ... At the poles, the Sun appears to sit on the horizon for periods upwards of 24 hours, and its rays skim mostly horizontally over the surface.
At what particular place on Earth insolation is strongest and greatest?
Solar energy received over the planet’s surface varies according to season, latitude, transparency of the atmosphere, and aspect or ground slope. Insolation affects temperature. The more the insolation, the higher the temperature. In any given day, the strongest insolation is received at noon .
What is the average net radiation budget of Earth?
Of the ~340 W/m 2 of solar radiation received by the Earth, an average of ~77 W/m 2 is reflected back to space by clouds and the atmosphere and ~23 W/m 2 is reflected by the surface albedo, leaving ~240 W/m 2 of solar energy input to the Earth’s energy budget. This amount is called the absorbed solar radiation (ASR).
Why does insolation change with increasing longitude?
When the sun’s rays strike Earth’s surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct (nearly perpendicular or closer to a 90 ̊ angle). ... At higher latitudes, the angle of solar radiation is smaller, causing energy to be spread over a larger area of the surface and cooler temperatures.
Why doesn’t the Southern Hemisphere get snow?
Land in the Southern Hemisphere is concentrated closer to the equator, where more direct sunlight increases heat and lowers the chances of snow accumulation. ... “The large ocean areas in the Southern Hemisphere prevent winter from getting too cold, except in Antarctica .
What is the first day of winter in the Southern Hemisphere?
The seasons in the Northern Hemisphere are the opposite of those in the Southern Hemisphere. This means that in Argentina and Australia, winter begins in June. The winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere is June 20 or 21 , while the summer solstice, the longest day of the year, is December 21 or 22.
Why is the sun always in the south?
The ecliptic intersects the celestial equator at two opposite points, the sun’s locations at the equinoxes. But the ecliptic is tipped at a 23.5° angle with respect to the celestial equator, so half of it is in the celestial sphere’s northern hemisphere and half is in the south .
