EARTH SCIENCE
CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGE
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Question
[CLICK ON ANY CHOICE TO KNOW THE RIGHT ANSWER]
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Central New York State has a higher elevation.
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Central New York State is more heavily wooded.
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Long Island has a more southerly latitude.
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Long Island is surrounded by a large body of water.
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Detailed explanation-1: -Why are temperature variations usually not as great on Long Island as they are in central New York State? Central New York State has a higher elevation.
Detailed explanation-2: -This is because of the angle of the sun’s rays as they strike Earth’s curved surface. Near the equator, the sun’s rays hit Earth at close to a 90-degree angle. This means that the sun’s energy is concentrated within a small surface area. On Earth, this results in warm temperatures at the equator.
Detailed explanation-3: -There are differences in climate around the world because of differing amounts of radiation received from the Sun at different parts of the Earth at different times of the year. More heat from the Sun is received near the equator than near the north and south poles where the angle of the Sun’s rays is lower.
Detailed explanation-4: -When the sun’s rays strike Earth’s surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct (nearly perpendicular or closer to a 90˚ angle). Therefore, the solar radiation is concentrated over a smaller surface area, causing warmer temperatures.