Global climate and weather patterns are driven by differences in the amount of heat energy in different areas of the Earth. Which statement best explains why different areas of the Earth have different amounts of heat energy?

Question

A.
The Earth receives different amounts of solar energy in different regions.
B.
The solar radiation from the Sun is equally distributed across the Earth at all times.
C.
The gravitational energy from the Sun varies greatly in different regions of the Earth.
D.
The Earth spins at different rates so the rotational energy of the Earth varies.

Answer 1

The statement that best explains why different areas of the Earth have different amounts of heat energy is:

A. The Earth receives different amounts of solar energy in different regions.

This variation is primarily due to the curvature of the Earth, which affects how sunlight strikes different areas. Near the equator, sunlight is more direct and concentrated, while near the poles, sunlight strikes at a flatter angle, spreading the energy over a larger area and resulting in less heat.