How do degrees of latitude relate to temperature and seasonal changes?

2 Answers

Due to spherical shape of Earth as we go north from the equator, the incident angle of sun light decreases...Orbital motion brings new areas to vertical sun light coverage.

Explanation:

We get maximum heat from sunlight when the incident angle is near 90 degrees.enter image source here
As Earth travels around Sun different areas of north and south gets maximum sunlight..THis is reason for seasons Axial tilt.
Picture credit. abyssuorgon.edu.

Jun 3, 2016

The temperature changes mainly due to latitude and the tilt of the Earth's spin-axis..The tilt angle produces seasonal changes

Explanation:

The angle of incidence of solar rays, at a location, is the inclination of the solar rays to the vertical ( radius from the center of the Earth).

In the absence of the tilt of the Earth's axis, this angle will be nearly the latitude #theta# of the location.

The tilt produces an

annual range #=theta+-#tilt angle = theta+-23.4^o#

The rate of change of angle of incidence of solar rays

#=+-(23.4/(365.26/2))^o#/day#=+-0.128^o#/day#=+-7..7#'/day..

At an equinox, this is #theta# everywhere. At a solstice, it is #theta+-23.4^o#.

For example, it is #90^o-23.4^o=66.6^o, nearly, at the North Pole, on Summer Solstice and at South Pole, on winter Solstice... ..

The day-night spin produces the daily range in temperature at a location.