Part one. #highergeography after the global energy budget - we then looked at how the distribution of energy in the #atmosphere varies between an surplus at the equator and a deficit at the Poles. #geography #atmosphere #geographyteacher

Part 2. This diagram summaries the key reasons why.
a) and b) represent equal amounts of solar insolation (energy) arriving at the edge of the #atmosphere. Due to the curvature of the earth, energy striking the poles is spread out over a large area and so has more surface to heat

Part 3. The sun is much lower in the sky at the Poles because of the earths curvature. The shallower angle of incoming solar (insolation) energy means it has a longer distance of atmosphere to pass through. So more energy is lost to absorption, reflection and scattering.

Part 4 Atmospheric particles of dust/gas aerosols such as carbon /sulphur dioxide absorb (carbon) or reflect/scatter (sulphur dioxide) energy, reducing the amount of energy reaching earth. The particles also give water a surface to condense on, forming clouds which also reflect.

Finally, at the poles are large ice caps. The bright white ice is a highly reflective surface, so up to 90% of the remaining energy that arrives (having been lost to absorption/reflection on the way down) is reflected back. This is part of what is called “the #albedo effect”.

Part 6 - to complete this as an #sqa response, you now need to express what happens at the equator. This is the opposite of what happens at the poles. You need to cover 1) sun is concentrated on a small area 2) sun is overhead so has a short distance of atmosphere 3) low albedo

Expect such questions in a higher paper to present this question using a graph like the one shown but stay calm and remember that is showing the same concept as the diagram. You can do this . #geography #atmosphere

Anyone finding this thread useful please like and RT :) #geographyteacher #AimHigh