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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