4.7 Solar Radiation and Earth's Seasons

Question 1

Why do seasons occur?

Answer 1

Seasons occur due to the earth’s rotation around the sun

Question 2

Northern Hemisphere day lengths: Winter Solstice

Answer 2

the shortest day of the year, we are tilted away from the sun in December, occurs on December 21, low insolation, the sun is directly over the tropic of Capricorn

Question 3

Summer Solstice

Answer 3

we are tilted towards the sun in June, longest day of the year, the sun is directly over the tropic of cancer, occurs on June 21, high insolation

Question 4

Spring and the vernal equinox

Answer 4

march (20-21) and September (22-21), all regions of the earth receive ~12 hours of daylight and ~hours of darkness, the sun is directly over the equator

Question 5

What degrees is the earth tilted?

Answer 5

23.5 degrees

Question 6

What happens when latitude increases?

Answer 6

Solar intensity decreases

Question 7

Where do the sun’s rays hit more strongly?

Answer 7

sun’s rays hit the Earth more strongly in parts of the earth that are tilted towards the sun