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 gravitational energy from the Sun varies greatly in different regions of the Earth.
B.
The solar radiation from the Sun is equally distributed across the Earth at all times.
C.
The Earth receives different amounts of solar energy in different regions.
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:

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

This is primarily due to the curvature of the Earth and its axial tilt, which affects how sunlight is distributed across the planet, leading to varying temperatures in different regions.