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?
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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?
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does that affect the weather of Columbus in June?
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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?
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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?
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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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