Earth, the Sun, and the Seasons
What latitude receives the most intense solar energy on March 21 and September 22?
0 degree.
What is the tilt of the Earth's axis?
23.5 degrees tilt always exists.
On March 21 and September 22, at what latitude are the Sun's noon rays directly overhead ?
Equator
When do all locations on Earth experience equal lengths of day and night?
Equinoxes-The Equinox (Vernal & Autumnal)
When are the Sun's rays perpendicular to Earth's surface at the equator?
Fall (Autumnal) Equinox, spring (vernal) Equinox
Regions on and near the equator generally experience warmer temperatures than the middle latitudes and polar regions because they average a lower sun angle throughout the year. True or false
False
Earth is closer to the Sun during summer and father away in the winter True or False
False This is a common misconception. Earth is actually closer to the Sun in winter ( in the Northern hemisphere) and farther away in summer. Distance from the Sun does not contribute to temperature differences between winter and summer.
When is the Earth closest to the Sun? What is it called and how about the distance from the Sun ?
January 3 perihelion(peri=near, helios=sun) 147 million Km
When is the Earth farther away from the Sun? What is it called and how about the distance from the Sun ?
July4 Aphelion( apo= away, helios= sun) 152 million km
Would you look toward the north or south to see the Sun at noon in June21-22 if you lived at the following latitudes? 40 degree North latitude: 10 degree North latitude: 10 degree South latitude:
June 21-22 23.5 N 40-south 10n- north 10S- north
The autumnal equinox in the Southern Hemisphere occurs on
March21
For those living in the Northern Hemisphere what terms ( seasons) are used to describe the following dates?-March21:-September 22:
March21:spring (Vernal) equinox September 22:fall (autumnal)equinox
On_________ and ___________, all areas on the Earth receive 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness.
March21; September 21
Does the Sun heat up the air ?
No. The Sun heats up the Earth and then the Earth gives off energy we can't see.
If you lived at 20 degreeS latitude, would you look toward the north or south to see the Sun at noon on March 21 and September 22?
North
What latitude receives the most intense solar energy on June 21-22?(indcatenorthorsouth)
North
On June 21-22, what is the length of daylight at latitudes north of the Arctic Circle & at latitudes south of the Antarctic Circle
North of the Arctic Circle: 24 hours South of the Antarctic Circle: 0 hours
Total annual insolation ( energy from the Sun) is least at__________, greates at _____________.
Poles, the Equator.
If you lived at the equator on December 21-22, would look toward the north or south to see the Sun at noon?
South
Which hemisphere, Northern or Southern , receives the most intense solar energy on December 21-22?
Southern
The peak of summer is called
Summer Solstice and is on June 21st or 22 in the Northern hemisphere. when days are longest.
What name( season) is used to describe the June 21-22 date in each hemisphere? Northern Hemisphere:___________________ Southern Hemisphere:____________________
Summer solstice, Winter solstice.
is the main reason why we have seasonal changes on our planet.
The tilt of the Earth's axis
What if the Earth had no tilt?
There would be no seasons
briefly describe the length of daylight everywhere on Earth on March 21 and September 22.
They are the same amount of daylights for 12 hours.
What is the relationship between the North Pole and South pole and the circle of illumination on March 21 and September 22?
They receive the same amount of light
On June 21-22, are the Sun's noon rays directly overhead at which location ?
Tropic of Cancer.
The official start dates for seasons are the same everywhere on Earth, but the actual seasons are opposite in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres (i.e. start of our fall is the start of spring in Australia). True or False
True
Describe the relationship between the Sun angle and the amount of radiation received in each 30 degrees segment.
When the Sun angle is close to the equator, the amount of radiation will receive more. When the Sun angle is farther away from the equator, the amount of radiation is less.
What name ( season ) is used to describe the December 21-22 date in each hemisphere. Northern Hemisphere:__________________ Southern Hemisphere:__________________
Winter solstice Summer solstice
As sunlight is distributed over __________
a smaller area- The sun's strike Earth's surface most directly at Equator. this focuses the rays on a small area. Because the rays hit more directly, the area is heated more.
At the start of spring and fall in the Northern Hemisphere (everywhere on Earth), the Sun is directly overhead at which location ?
at the Equator
On the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the sun is directly overhead at which location
at the Tropic of Cancer
On the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Sun is directly overhead at which location ?
at the Tropic of Capricorn
Where does the length of day remain the same throughout the year?
at the equator
On the equinoxes, the vertical rays of the Sun strike Earth at which location?
at the equatorThe incoming rays of the Sun strike the equator vertically on the equinoxes due to the inclination of Earth's axis.
What fact about Earth creates the unequal distribution of solar energy ?
because of curvature of the Earth or the Earth is round.
The inclination of Earth's axis to the plane of the ecliptic causes the vertical rays of the Sun to migrate(move from one to another) between which locations on Earth as it travels about its annual orbit?
between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of CapricornAs Earth orbits the Sun, the vertical rays of the Sun migrate between the Tropic of Cancer (23½º N) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23½º S).
High latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere experience nearly continuous ________ in Summer( top) almost perpetual ______________ in winter.
daylight, darkness
With latitude- higher latitudes have more__________ than ________ in summer, less in _______
daylight, low latitudes, winter.
With time of year- all locations have more _____________ in when? less in When ?
daylight, summer, winter.
Sun is directly overhead at ________________ during ______________
different places ( tropics, equator), different seasons.
The length of daylight at any given location on Earth is greatest during the season when the sun angle is __________ and it increases as you move towards __________ latitudes
greatest, higher
What does insolation stand for?
incoming solar radiation basically all energy we receive from the Sun.( energy from the Sun)
More heat delivers by isolation where?
the Sun is directly overhead.
Amount of solar energy reaching Earth's surface depends on what ?
the angle of the Sun's rays strike Earth.
Amount of heat receive depends on what ?
the angles of the sun
What causes when Earth's axis is always tilted in the some direction ?
the distribution of solar radiation to change with the seasons.
The tilt is toward the Sun=_______________ The tilt is is away from the Sun =__________
the high angle, the low angle.
Seasonal temperature contrasts are due to ______________________________
the tilt of Earth's axis and the angle of the Sun's rays.
The deepest day of winter is called
the winter solstice and December 21st in the Northern hemisphere.
Which situation best describes the position of Earth's axis on June 21-22 in the Northern Hemisphere?
tilted 23½º toward the SunEarth orbits the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted 23½º toward the Sun on June 21-22.
Solar energy is diluted (reduce) over a larger area when ____________
when sunlight strikes at a low angle ( at high latitudes)