Q&A

Using the legend, determine the value (number and unit) for the darkest blue/dark-blue/almost-black color.

The color darkest-blue/dark-blue/almost-black represents zero watts per square meter.

Where is this color located in the image?

In the far north areas of Earth; the North Pole to the Canadian border.

Determine the value for the lightest yellow color. Where is this located in the image?

The lightest yellow color represents 425 watts per square meter, and is located mostly around the continent of Antarctica.

Can you think of a possible reason for this situation in January?

This is because of the Earth’s tilt; it is tilted at an angle, and in January the North Pole has 24-hour darkness while the South Pole has 24-hour sunlight. The South Pole also is glacier-covered, a white surface, which means high reflectivity. (So the reason for this has to do with both the Earth’s tilt and the surface the sun is hitting.)