In Earth science, what does the term insolation mean?

A beam-spreading diagram shows equal-width sunlight hitting one surface at 80 degrees and another at 25 degrees. Where is energy per unit area greater?

A lamp shines the same beam on two cards; one spot is small and one spot is spread out. Which card receives stronger insolation per square centimeter?

At the same clear location, the Sun's altitude is 70 degrees at noon in June and 30 degrees at noon in December. When is noon insolation stronger?

Use the sun-path diagram for one Northern Hemisphere site. Which path would give the greatest daily insolation?

A low winter Sun makes long shadows at noon. What does that show about the angle of insolation?

In the beam diagram, Beam A strikes at 20 degrees and Beam B strikes at 60 degrees. Which beam is more concentrated on the surface?

Use the June-solstice latitude graph. Which site receives more total daily insolation, 10°N or 65°N?

Use the December-solstice latitude graph. Which latitude has the greater total daily insolation, 60°S or 60°N?

Use the equinox latitude graph. Where is daily insolation greatest?

Use the June-solstice graph. Which latitude has the highest plotted daily insolation?

Use the December-solstice graph. Which latitude has no plotted daily insolation?

Use the equinox latitude graph. What overall pattern does it show from the equator toward either pole?

Use the daily graph. Insolation peaks at solar noon, but air temperature peaks near 3 p.m. What explains the lag?

After solar noon, incoming solar radiation has begun to decrease, but a parking lot still absorbs more energy than it loses. What happens to air temperature above it?

A sidewalk remains warm after sunset even though insolation is zero. What process best explains this observation?

Use the annual insolation curve for 40°N. If average air temperature peaks weeks after the curve's high point, what causes that seasonal lag?

A city has its strongest sunlight at noon but its hottest hour at 4 p.m. What must be true between noon and 4 p.m.?

A lakeside town is warmest in late summer, not on the June solstice. Why does nearby water strengthen the seasonal temperature lag?

Use the net-heat graph. At what plotted time would air temperature stop rising?

Use the sun-path diagram. Which path represents the longest duration of daylight at the same Northern Hemisphere site?

During the December solstice, what is the daylight duration at a location well inside the Arctic Circle, such as 80°N?

Use the equinox sun-path diagram for three latitudes. What does the due-east sunrise for all three paths show about daylight duration?

Use the sun-path diagram. Which path gives the shortest duration of insolation at the same site?

Use the December daylight graph. Which latitude has the shortest plotted daylight duration?

Use the annual insolation graph for 40°N. When does the plotted curve reach its highest value?

Use the clear-day insolation graph. At what plotted time after noon does incoming solar radiation return to zero?

Use the equinox latitude graph. What is the approximate daily insolation at 30°N?

Use the annual graph for 60°N. Between which two plotted dates does daily insolation increase the most?

On an insolation graph, latitude is on the x-axis and daily insolation is on the y-axis. What does a higher y-value mean?