Energy Budget

Question 1

Deficit in the polar latitudes because

Answer 1

Suns angle in the sky decreases
Greater curvature of the earth means that insolation is concentrated over a wide surface area and more atmosphere to pass through
More energy lost to absorption and reflection
Polar ice caps are highly reflective surfaces

Question 2

Tropical latitudes have a surplus because

Answer 2

Suns rays strike vertically I.e from directly overhead
Minimal earth curvature causes suns Ray’s to strike surface at right angles
Insolation concentrated over small surface area
Suns Ray’s have less atmosphere to pass through
Darker forest absorbs energy
Less energy lost through reflection and absorption