4.7 - Solar Radiation & Seasons

What is the angle at which the sun's rays strike the Earth at the equator?

• 0 degrees

• 30 degrees

• 90 degrees

• 180 degrees

What are the units of insolation?

• watts/meter

• watts

• watts/square meter

• joules/square meter

Why does less sunlight strike each square meter of the Earth at northern latitudes than at the equator?  (choose all)

• There's more atmosphere to pass through

• The rays hit the earth at an oblique angle

• The planet is spinning slower toward the poles

• There is more ocean at northern latitudes

What happens on the June solstice? (choose all)

• The longest day of the year for the southern hemisphere

• The shortest day of the year for the southern hemisphere

• The northern hemisphere receives the most direct radiation of the year.

• The northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun.

When are the equinoxes?

• summer and winter

• spring and fall

On the winter solstice, the sun is directly over

• the equator

• the tropic of cancer

• the tropic of capricorn

Ultimately, what causes the seasons?

• the spin of the Earth

• air flow and wind patterns

• the oceans

• the tilt of the Earth

What is albedo?

• The amount of light that passes through an object

• The amount of light that is absorbed by an object

• The amount of light that is reflected off an object

In January, which absorbs more heat, open water on Lake Michigan or an area covered with ice?

• they're equal because the angle of the sunlight is the same

• open water

• ice

Which season is taking place in the northern hemisphere in the diagram

• summer

• winter

• spring

• fall

• I have no idea