Which of the following best describes the influence of latitude on climate?
A. Temperate regions receive more solar energy and heat per unit area than tropical regions.
B. Polar regions receive less solar energy and heat per unit area than tropical regions.
C. Earth's climate zones are produced by the equal distribution of the sun's heat across the Earth's surface. D. Less direct solar energy affects areas near the equator than it does at the poles.
I'll be glad to check your answer.
The correct answer is B. Polar regions receive less solar energy and heat per unit area than tropical regions.
The correct answer is B. Polar regions receive less solar energy and heat per unit area than tropical regions.
To understand why this is the case, let's consider the concept of latitude and its influence on climate. Latitude is the angular distance of a location on Earth from the equator. It plays a significant role in determining the amount of solar energy and heat that a particular region receives.
As you move closer to the poles (higher latitudes), the angle at which sunlight reaches the Earth's surface becomes increasingly oblique. This means that the same amount of solar energy is spread out over a larger area, resulting in less energy per unit area. In other words, the solar energy is more dispersed in polar regions compared to tropical regions.
Conversely, in tropical regions near the equator (lower latitudes), sunlight reaches the Earth's surface more directly and perpendicular to the surface. This leads to a higher concentration of solar energy per unit area, resulting in warmer temperatures.
To recap, the influence of latitude on climate can be summarized as follows: as you move towards the poles (higher latitudes), the amount of solar energy and heat per unit area decreases. Conversely, as you move towards the equator (lower latitudes), the amount of solar energy and heat per unit area increases.