Introduction to Earth Flashcards
1
Q
Significance of Polarity
A
Earth tilted at 23.5*. Tilt leads to seasons as one side of the earth (south or north) gets more solar energy during different times of year
2
Q
Sun Declination
A
Angle of Sun’s rays (aka Angle of Incidence)
3
Q
Subsolar Point
A
Point at which the Sun is directly overhead (90*)
4
Q
What is solar altitude and how is it calculated?
A
SA= 90*-AD (arc distance; distance in degrees between subsolar point and the desired point)
5
Q
Circle of Illumination
A
The day/night dividing great circle
6
Q
Plane of the ecliptic
A
Imaginary plane of Earth’s revolutionary path around the Sun
