Arctic Circle:
The parallel of latitude approximately 66°34′ north, the
southern boundary of the North Frigid Zone, marking the
approximate limit north of which the sun remains above the
horizon all day on the summer solstice. AKA the spot where the
sun
never sets on June 21 (summer solstice) and where the sun
never rises on December 21 (winter solstice).
Antarctic Circle:
The parallel of latitude approximately 66°34′ south, the northern
boundary of the South Frigid Zone, marking the approximate limit south
of which the sun remains above the horizon all day on the summer
solstice.
*When it is day in the arctic circle, it is night in the antarctic circle. The
same occurs in both except one is south and the other is north and the
opposites occur at each.
Tropic of Cancer (Northern Tropic):The circle that marks the latitude
23.5 degrees north
where the sun is directly overhead at noon on the first day of summer in the Northern
hemisphere(6/21).
Tropic of Capricorn
(Southern Tropic:
The circle that marks the
latitude 23.5 degrees south
when the sun is directly
overhead at noon on the first
day of winter in the Northern
hemisphere (12/21).
Equator:
An imaginary line of latitude (0 degrees) that runs from East to West separating the Southern
hemisphere from the Northern hemisphere and exactly midway between the two poles. The
equator receives the most incoming solar radiation therefore has more warm and humid climate.
Questions that relate to topic:
15. B : The answer is Tropic of Capricorn because position A is located at 23.5 degrees South
which is also the Tropic of Capricorn latitude. The tropic of Capricorn is near the equator which
receives the most amount of solar rays.
26. A: the Equator (0 degrees). The figure is at the center of the diagram and the sun at noon is
directly above him.
44. D: receives the most nearly perpendicular insolation. This is because the sun is seen highest
in the sky at the Equator.
48. B: the Equator (0 ) on September 23. The equator is the point of the Earth that receives the
greatest amount of solar rays.
72. C: The Sun's vertical rays are north of the equator in June. In June it is the Northern
hemisphere's summer therefore the southern hemisphere is not receiving as much solar radiation
due to the Earth’s tilt. At this point in time the earths tilt results in the Northern hemisphere
facing towards the sun’s rays.
92.
Seasons
Earth’s
position
Spring
A
Summer
C
Winter
E
Autumn
G
The position of the earth on its orbital path around the sun varies at the beginning of each
season. In spring and autumn, the earth is at the same position in relation to the sun. Therefore it
experiences similar weather (windy, sweater weather). Meanwhile during the winter solstice, the
sun is directly overhead the tropic of capricorn (southern tropic). As for the winter solstice, the
sun is directly overhead of the tropic of cancer (northern tropic).
What You Need to Know For the Regents:
● The Arctic and Antarctic Circles, Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn, and
the Equator make up the five circles of latitude that mark world maps.
● The Tropic of Cancer lies to the north of the equator and the Tropic of Capricorn
lies to the south of the equator. Both are at 23.5o North and South latitude
respectively.
● The Tropic of Cancer is gradually moving southward while the Tropic of
Capricorn is gradually moving northward.
● The Equator receives the most insolation, while the Arctic and Antarctic Circles
receive the least.
● The tropic of cancer and the tropic of capricorn don’t receive much variation
because the sun is always high in the sky. Anything above the tropic of cancer and
below the tropic of capricorn has more variation in climate because the sun’s
position varies.
● The Sun appears to be the highest in the sky at the Equator and surrounding areas.
How It Relates to your Life:
● Determines the time of day, season or climate a person will experience in that area.
Seasons occur throughout the year.
● Is the reasoning behind why we experience winter during the months the of December
through March and summer during the months of June through August.