With reference to insolation, consider the following statements :1. Eq...
Equator receives less insolation than tropic due to heavy cloud cover. Remember insolation is the amount of sunlight received at the surface of earth per unit area. So the clouds obstructs the sunlight and hence equator receives less insolation. Similarly, Oceans are significantly cloudier than continents and hence receive less insolation.
View all questions of this test
With reference to insolation, consider the following statements :1. Eq...
Insolation and its distribution:
Insolation refers to the amount of solar radiation received at the Earth's surface. It plays a crucial role in various atmospheric and climatic processes. The distribution of insolation varies across different latitudes and regions due to the Earth's tilt and the curvature of its surface. Let's analyze the given statements in detail:
Statement 1: Equator receives less insolation than tropics.
- The equator is the region around the Earth's middle, located at 0 degrees latitude. The tropics, on the other hand, refer to the regions between the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees North) and the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees South).
- The statement is incorrect. In reality, the equator receives more insolation compared to the tropics. This is because the Sun's rays are more direct near the equator, resulting in higher solar radiation and higher insolation. The tropics, although closer to the equator, receive slightly less insolation due to the tilt of the Earth and the curvature of its surface.
Statement 2: At the same latitude, the insolation is more over the oceans than over the continents.
- The statement is correct. Insolation over the oceans is generally higher compared to the continents at the same latitude.
- Oceans have a lower albedo (reflectivity) compared to continents. This means that a larger portion of the Sun's radiation is absorbed by the oceans, resulting in higher insolation. In contrast, continents have a higher albedo due to the presence of land surfaces, vegetation, and other factors, leading to a higher proportion of solar radiation being reflected back to space.
Conclusion:
Based on the analysis, we can conclude that statement 1 is incorrect, while statement 2 is correct. Therefore, the correct answer is option 'A' - 1 only.
To make sure you are not studying endlessly, EduRev has designed UPSC study material, with Structured Courses, Videos, & Test Series. Plus get personalized analysis, doubt solving and improvement plans to achieve a great score in UPSC.