The reason why the warmest time of the day to be in the afternoon, even though the sun’s rays are most direct at noon.
Answer to Problem 1QFR
The warmest time of the day is usually in the afternoon, even though the sun’s rays are most direct at noon because the rays of the sun are most intense in nature during the afternoon.
Explanation of Solution
In the afternoon, the intensity of the solar radiation decreases. Due to this, the amount of outgoing heat energy from the Earth surface increases for a time. This situation creates a yield in energy surplus for three to four hours in the afternoon and contributes to a lag between the time of maximum solar heating and the time of maximum temperature. There is a surplus of incoming solar radiation versus outgoing infrared radiation until the late afternoon.
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Chapter 3 Solutions
Essentials of Meteorology: An Invitation to the Atmosphere (MindTap Course List)