As one moves away from the equator, average temperatures drop because:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The sunlight strikes the Earth's surface more directly at the equator, leading to higher temperatures. As one moves away from the equator, the angle at which sunlight hits the surface becomes more oblique, spreading the same amount of energy over a larger area, thus reducing the intensity of the heat. This is the primary reason why average temperatures drop as one moves away from the equator.

As One Moves Away from the Equator, Average Temperatures Drop