Question

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics because

A) there is a net annual energy surplus there.
B) rainfall makes water available for evaporation from soils.
C) the dark color of forests (as opposed to sandy soils) results in the absorption of heat energy by vegetation.
D) all of the above are true.
E) B and C are true.

Answer 1

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics because there is a net annual energy surplus and rainfall makes water available for evaporation from soils.

Step-by-step explanation:

The highest annual values for latent heat of evaporation (LE) on land occur in the tropics mainly because of two reasons:

1. There is a net annual energy surplus in the tropics due to the high amount of solar radiation received throughout the year. This surplus energy provides the necessary heat to drive the process of evaporation.
2. Rainfall makes water available for evaporation from soils. In the tropics, there is generally a high amount of rainfall which keeps the soils moist and provides ample water for evaporation.

Therefore, the correct answer to your question is option E) B and C are true.