Question

At which latitude, heat gain through insolation approximately equals heat loss through terrestrial radiation?

• A. 42$1/\mathring{2}$ North and South
• B. 22$1/\mathring{2}$ North and South
• C. ${40}^o$ North and South
• D. ${66}^o$ North and South

Answer 1

Answer: (B)

22$1/\mathring{2}$ North and South

Terrestrial radiation refers to the long-wave electromagnetic radiation originating from Earth and its atmosphere. this radiation is emitted by naturally radioactive materials on Earth including uranium, thorium, and radon.Most of the terrestrial radiation is absorbed by the water vapor in the atmosphere and some by other gases (about 8 percent is radiated directly to outer space). The latitude is responsible for the temperature around the earth and in the earth. Areas that are close to the equator receive more heat than areas that are close to the poles, so it depends on the latitude between these. Insolation is concentrated near the equator but dispersed near the poles, where the distance is responsible. Second reason is that insolation near the poles has to pass through a greater amount of atmosphere and there is more chance of it being reflected back out to space.