Geography
How Latitude Shapes Climate and Solar Radiation
Quick fact
The equator receives about 2.5 times more solar energy per unit area than the poles, yet its temperature remains relatively stable because of atmospheric and oceanic heat distribution.
Why this is interesting
Why is it that the equator is scorching hot while the poles are freezing, even though the Sun shines on both? The answer lies in the way sunlight strikes the Earth's curved surface—a geometric trick that creates our planet's climate zones.