Seasonal Fluctuations in
Temperature on a Planet With Axial Tilt
No Continents and Oceans (Single Surface Type) (e.g., Mars)
|
Number of Hours of Daylight Summer Solstice |
Winter Solstice |
Radiation Intensity |
Amt Rad Passing Through Top Making it To Surface |
|
|
|
|
|
Poles |
24 hours |
0 hours |
Weak |
30% (Low Sun Angle) |
Equator |
12 hours |
12 hours |
Strong |
60% (High Sun Angle) |
Conclusions: if the earth is considered to be a
uniform ball all of one substance then:
(1) On
average, the earth's suface and the atmosphere are
warmer at the Equator than at the Poles;
(2) On
average, there is a tremendous fluctuation from winter to summer temperatures
in the polar regions and none at all in the equatorial
regions. No seasons at the
equator.