Final answer:
The latitudinal distribution of the highest annual value of LE over land is primarily influenced by insolation, with regions closer to the equator such as the southwest desert having the highest solar potential. Variations in solar intensity are modest across latitudes, and tilting solar panels toward the equator at an angle equal to the site latitude optimizes solar energy yield.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question refers to the latitudinal distribution of the highest annual value of Latent Heat (LE) over land. Based on geographic and climatic data, areas closer to the equator, such as the southwest desert, exhibit the highest solar potential because these regions receive more insolation. However, the variation in solar intensity across different latitudes in the U.S. is not dramatically different, with a factor of less than two between the most and least solar-intense locations. This illustrates the importance of insolation's latitudinal distribution in determining the annual LE value over land. Furthermore, since land heats up and cools down more rapidly than water, and given the impact of altitude, regions at lower altitudes generally have higher LE values compared to high altitude areas like the Tierra Fria.The optimal angle for solar panels to maximize annual yield is to tilt them toward the equator at an angle equal to the site latitude. This is suitable for regions close to the Tropic of Cancer, where the Sun is directly overhead on the summer solstice, indicating the significance of this latitude (23°N) in solar energy potential. In summary, the latitudinal distribution of LE is influenced by various factors including insolation, altitude, and specific characteristics of the geographical location.