Earth's spherical shape determines the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth at different latitudes.Thus, the amount of sunlight reaching a specific latitude would have the greatest effect on
A) average temperature.
B) average precipitation.
C) gaseous makeup of the atmosphere.
D) amount of reflection of sunlight.
E) amount of absorption of sunlight.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth at different latitudes affects the amount of solar radiation received by a region, which in turn affects the temperature of that region. Regions closer to the equator receive more direct sunlight, resulting in higher temperatures, while regions further from the equator receive less direct sunlight, resulting in cooler temperatures. Therefore, the amount of sunlight reaching a specific latitude has the greatest effect on average temperature.

Earth's Spherical Shape Determines the Angle at Which Sunlight Strikes