The angle at which sunlight hits different latitudes on Earth is primarily caused by the tilt of Earth's axis. Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of about 23.5 degrees. As Earth orbits the sun, this tilt causes the angle at which sunlight hits the surface of the Earth to vary throughout the year.
During the summer months in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun, causing sunlight to hit the Northern Hemisphere at a more direct angle. This results in longer days and more intense sunlight. In contrast, during the winter months, the North Pole is tilted away from the sun, causing sunlight to hit the Northern Hemisphere at a more indirect angle, resulting in shorter days and less intense sunlight.
Conversely, in the Southern Hemisphere, the opposite is true. During the Southern Hemisphere's summer months, the South Pole is tilted towards the sun, resulting in more direct sunlight and longer days. During the winter months, the South Pole is tilted away from the sun, resulting in less direct sunlight and shorter days.
What causes the sunlight to hitdifferent latitudes on earth at different angles?
1 answer