During the year, at the top of the atmosphere the equator experiences two periods (six months apart) of maximum average daily insolation and two periods (six months apart) of minimum average daily insolation.

(a) When do the two maximums occur?
(b) When do the two minimums occur?
(c) Explain the reason(s) for this pattern.


(a) On the equinoxes
(b) On the solstices
(c) Sun's vertical rays strike the equator on the equinoxes.

Environmental & Atmospheric Sciences

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