Higher Geography – Atmosphere Practice Test

The question tests how solar energy is distributed and balanced across latitudes. Areas near the equator receive the most solar energy year-round, creating a net energy surplus that must be transported toward the poles. In contrast, higher latitudes receive sunlight at a much lower angle, with shorter days in winter and often reflective surfaces like ice and snow, so they lose more energy to space than they gain over the year. That pattern means the zone from about 35°N up to the North Pole and from about 35°S down to the South Pole has a net energy deficit. The tropical region (0–35°) generally experiences surplus, while the broader band from 35° to the poles is where the deficit dominates.