Angle of insolation-The angle at which the sun's rays strike a particular location.

Only latitudes between the tropic of cancer and Tropic of Capricorn can receive direct rays. The maximum angle of insolation is 90 degrees.

The angle of insolation varies with

1)Latitude-As latitude increases, the angle of insolation decreases

2)Season-The maximum angle of insolation, maximum duration,and maximum intensity occur during the summer.

3)Time of day- From morning to noon the angle of insolation increases and the from noon to evening the angle of insolation decreases.

As the angle of insolation increases the sun gets higher in the sky. As the sun gets higher in the sky the length of the shadow decreases.

When there is a surplus of heat energy the temperatures go up.

When therie is a deficit of heat energy the temperatures go down.

Maximum temperatures never occur at the time of the maximum angle of insolation. This is because a suplus exists from June to August (in the northern hemsphere) of heat energy and the temperatures go up. This is the same for the minimum angle of insolation and miniumum temperatures. From December to March there is a deficit of heat enrgy so temperatures go down.

Colloids are small particles that scatter nsolation; as a result, less energy reaches the earth's surface so temperatrues are lowered. This occrrance has been noted after major volcanic eruptions throw massive amounts of volcanic ash and dust into the atmosphere.

When short waves of energy are transmitted, but longer waves of heat are reflected back onto the earth, this is known as the greenhouse effect.