POLAR AXIS (Shorter) ▲ ┌───┴───┐ ───┤ ├───► EQUATORIAL RADIUS (Longer due to centrifugal force) └───┬───┘ ▼
The intense heat at the equator is caused by the , not its proximity to the sun. is the equator closer to the sun
So, why the sweat? Why the lush, choking jungles of the Congo compared to the silent, sterile ice of Antarctica? The equator is closer to the Sun
The equator is closer to the Sun. It’s hotter because of the direct angle of sunlight, not proximity. So next time someone asks, you’ve got the angle—literally. Travel north or south, and the posture changes
Travel north or south, and the posture changes. The light hits the Earth at a slant. It glances off the atmosphere; it stretches itself thin over the curve of the planet. Imagine holding a flashlight straight down onto a table. You see a small, intense circle of light. Now, tilt the flashlight. That same amount of light stretches into a long, oval ellipse. The energy is diffused. It is spread too thin to burn.