In January, the thermal equator
A) trends southward into the interior of South America and Africa.
B) trends northward over all ocean basins.
C) peaks in the interior of Eurasia.
D) is not influenced by continentality.

Question

In January, the thermal equator
A) trends southward into the interior of South America and Africa. 
B) trends northward over all ocean basins. 
C) peaks in the interior of Eurasia. 
D) is not influenced by continentality.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The thermal equator is a hypothetical line connecting all points on the Earth's surface with the highest mean annual temperature. In January, the thermal equator trends southward into the interior of South America and Africa due to the effect of the Inter-Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which shifts southward during the Northern Hemisphere winter. This causes warmer air to be brought closer to the equator and results in a southward shift of the thermal equator.

In January, the Thermal Equator