All Flashcards
Cause: Earth's tilt. Effect?
Seasons, variations in day length and temperature.
Cause: Direct sunlight at the equator. Effect?
Higher temperatures due to concentrated solar radiation.
Cause: Angled sunlight at high latitudes. Effect?
Lower temperatures due to dispersed solar radiation.
Cause: Summer Solstice. Effect?
Longest day of the year in that hemisphere.
Cause: Winter Solstice. Effect?
Shortest day of the year in that hemisphere.
Define solar radiation.
Energy from the sun.
Define Equinox.
Time when day and night are approximately equal in length.
Define Solstice.
Summer and winter solstices; represent longest and shortest days.
Define Latitude.
The angular distance of a place north or south of the earth's equator.
Why is Earth's tilt important?
It causes the seasons.
What is the relationship between latitude and solar energy?
Lower latitudes receive more direct solar energy.
What happens during the summer solstice?
Longest day of the year; Earth's tilt is most directly towards the sun.
What happens during the winter solstice?
Shortest day of the year; Earth's tilt is most directly away from the sun.
What defines an equinox?
Day and night are approximately equal in length; tilt is neither towards nor away from the sun.
How does solar radiation affect different biomes?
Solar radiation affects biomes differently based on the season and latitude.
What happens to daylight hours in the winter?
Shorter days, longer nights, less direct solar radiation.
What happens to daylight hours in the summer?
Longer days, shorter nights, more direct solar radiation.
Why does the equator receive more solar radiation?
Solar radiation hits directly, resulting in more energy per unit area.
What happens to solar radiation at higher latitudes?
Solar radiation is spread over a larger area, leading to less energy per unit area.