Solar Radiation & Earth’s Seasons (College Board AP® Environmental Science): Flashcards
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Define insolation.
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Cards in this collection (14)
Define insolation.
Insolation is the amount of incoming solar radiation that reaches the Earth's surface.
Why is solar intensity greatest at the equator?
At the equator, the Sun's rays strike the Earth more directly (at a higher angle), which concentrates solar energy over a smaller surface area.
Define latitude.
Latitude is the distance north or south of the equator, measured in degrees, with 0° at the equator and 90° at the poles.
True or False?
Sunlight reaching high latitudes travels through less of the atmosphere than sunlight reaching the equator.
False.
At higher latitudes, sunlight travels through more of the atmosphere, which scatters and absorbs more solar energy, so less radiation reaches the surface.
The decrease in insolation from the equator to the poles contributes to the formation of tropical, , and polar climate zones.
The decrease in insolation from the equator to the poles contributes to the formation of tropical, temperate, and polar climate zones.
What causes seasonal variation in the solar radiation a location receives?
Seasonal variation is caused by Earth's axial tilt as it orbits the Sun.
Define summer solstice.
The summer solstice marks the longest day of the year, around June 21 in the Northern Hemisphere.
Apart from solar intensity, what else changes through the year and affects the total solar energy a location receives?
The number of daylight hours changes through the year, which affects the total solar energy a location receives.
True or False?
The Arctic Circle experiences 24-hour daylight in winter.
False.
The Arctic Circle experiences 24-hour darkness in winter, when the tilt causes the Arctic to face away from the Sun; it has 24-hour daylight in summer.
Earth's axis is tilted at ° as it orbits the Sun.
Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5° as it orbits the Sun.
Define equinox.
An equinox (around March 21 and September 21) is when day and night are equal in length worldwide.
Besides climate zones, what does the variation in insolation with latitude contribute to in the atmosphere?
The variation in insolation with latitude contributes to wind formation and global wind patterns.
True or False?
The solstice dates are the same in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
False.
The solstice dates are reversed for the Southern Hemisphere, so its summer solstice falls around December 21.
How is solar radiation distributed across latitudes during the equinoxes?
During the equinoxes, solar radiation is more evenly distributed across latitudes.
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