Question

How do the latitude and the tilt in the axis of rotation of the earth affect the amount of radiation received at the earth’s surface?

Answer 1

Sunrays fall vertical on the equator throughout the year. From 0° to 23.5° north and south, the sun keeps fluctuating. From 1^st March to 21^st March, the sun is southern and sunrays fall vertical on tropic of cancer. This time there is summer in the northern hemisphere. From 23^rd September to 22^nd December, the sun is southern. During this time, the sunrays fall vertical on the tropic of Capricorn. On 21^st March and 23^rd September, sunrays fall vertical on the equator. As we move towards poles from tropic of cancer and tropic of Capricorn, the temperature keeps on decreasing. Therefore, after 6614 degrees north and south there is a cold zone. Throughout the year, the temperature remains low here. In this region, throughout the year, there is frigid snow. It is because the sun’s rays fall tilted on it. In this way, the latitude and the tilt in the axis of rotation of the earth affect the amount of radiation received at the earth’s surface.