Question

The amount of energy received above the South Pole during the southern hemisphere's summer solstice is _______ than that received above the North Pole during the northern hemisphere's summer solstice because _______.

A) greater; the South Pole is closer to the Sun
B) greater; the Earth is tilted toward the South Pole during its summer
C) less; the South Pole is farther from the Sun
D) less; the Earth is tilted away from the South Pole during its summer

Answer 1

The energy received at the South Pole during the Southern Hemisphere's summer solstice is greater than that at the North Pole during the Northern Hemisphere's summer due to Earth's tilt towards the South Pole, which leads to more direct sunlight and longer days.

Step-by-step explanation:

The amount of energy received above the South Pole during the Southern Hemisphere's summer solstice is greater than that received above the North Pole during the Northern Hemisphere's summer solstice because the Earth is tilted toward the South Pole during its summer.

This means that during the southern hemisphere's summer, particularly in December, the South Pole experiences continuous daylight and thus receives a prolonged period of solar radiation. Furthermore, while Earth's orbit is elliptical and the planet is indeed slightly closer to the Sun during the southern hemisphere's summer, it is the tilt of Earth's axis, at 23.5°, that primarily causes the seasonal differences, not the small variation in Earth's distance from the Sun.

The statement that Earth is closer to the Sun during the southern hemisphere's summer is accurate, but the directness and duration of sunlight resulting from the axial tilt have a much more substantial impact on seasonal heating than the minor changes in distance.