Name: _____________________________
Date :_____________________
Sun Angle and Insolation
Why does the area surrounding the equator have hot climates?
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How does this differ from areas near the poles?
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What time of year would you expect to see the longest shadows?
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What direction does the sun rise? _________________
What direction does the sun set? __________________
Since the sun is stationary, what direction does the Earth rotate, clockwise or counter-clockwise?
Insolation is a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given time
Which area of the Earth receives the most direct sunlight? _________________________________________________________________________________________________
From December 21st through June 22nd, the amount of daylight in the northern hemisphere ___________________________________.
What month receives the most daylight in the Northern Hemisphere? ________________
Why does Columbus, Ohio, (39° N) receive more solar energy in June than December? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________How does that affect the weather of Columbus in June? __________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
The Earth receives only a small fraction of insolation. What happens to the rest of the sun’s radiation? _________________________________________________________________________
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At what angle does the Earth receive the most insolation? ______________________________
What happens to the amount of energy as the angle decrease? _________________________
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Why? What happens the insolation? _______________________________________________________
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If the sun’s angle is the highest at noon, why isn’t the daily temperature the highest noon? ________________________________________________________________________________________
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Why is the coldest hour of the day just before sunrise? _________________________________
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What method(s) of heat transfer occurs overnight? ______________________________________
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Would you expect to experience colder temperatures overnight at a desert or on a boat, if the latitude and time are year are equal? ________________________________________
Given what you know about heat transfer and insolation, explain why the warmest month in Maryland is July even though the highest insolation occurs in June.
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