The Earth's equatorial regions do receive more incoming solar radiation than they radiate back, but the temperature is not constantly increasing due to several factors:

1. Heat Redistribution by Atmosphere and Oceans:

The Earth's atmosphere and oceans play a crucial role in redistributing heat. Warm air at the equator rises and moves toward the poles, while cooler air from higher latitudes descends towards the equator. Ocean currents also contribute to heat distribution.

2. Albedo Effect:

The equatorial regions have relatively low albedo, meaning they reflect less sunlight compared to some other surfaces. However, the high reflectivity of ice-covered areas, like polar regions, contributes to temperature regulation.

3. Latitudinal Variation in Solar Intensity:

The sun's rays strike the equator more directly, but at higher latitudes, the same amount of solar energy is spread over a larger area, leading to lower solar intensity. This variation helps maintain a balance in temperatures.

4. Evaporation and Cloud Formation:

The intense solar heating at the equator leads to significant evaporation. This process cools the surface, and cloud formation helps in reflecting some of the incoming sunlight back to space.

5. Earth's Tilt and Seasons:

The Earth's axial tilt results in seasonal variations. As the Earth orbits the sun, different parts of the globe receive varying amounts of sunlight, preventing a continuous buildup of heat at the equator.

These interconnected processes create a dynamic system where heat is continually redistributed, preventing the equatorial regions from becoming excessively warmer over time.

Dr Kevin Machogu Osoro thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Areas near the equator receive more direct solar radiation than areas near the poles. However, these areas do not constantly get warmer and warmer, because the ocean currents and winds transport the heat from the lower latitudes near the equator to higher latitudes near the poles.

Earth in approx. radiative equilibrium with space (sun disk+4k elsewhere) => radiation out=in (taking account of sun angle to surface). Cold poles + fluid heat xfr => net effect of radiative coupling at poles is cooling. Loss of sea ice increases coupling at poles => should reduce earth temperature, and increase air/sea currents? I seem to remember (physics degree 50 years ago) a kirchof law for thermal equilibrium under radiative coupling: an isolated black body will take the mean temperature of its surroundings. I have not found it on google search, so I am not sure I got the situation exactly right. Anyway using that and the sun's subtense and its surface temperature and 4k for the rest, you can get plausible figures for the equilibrium temperature of a flat surface in earth orbit, at different angles to the line to the sun. The average temp over a sphere is roughly right as you would expect. Without heat xfr (air and sea) from the equatorial regions to the poles (and winter/summer transfer of retained heat), the winter polar regions would be 4k ... The polar regions are held above their radiative equilibrium level by heat from the rest of the planet. If the loss of sea ice increases the radiative coupling of the polar regions to the cold space they see, I would expect this to increase their heat loss. I am frequently told the loss of polar sea ice would heat the earth further, by TV etc. This seems implausible. If it is indeed correct, can someone please explain it to me. PS how much does the heat flow from the earth's core raise the temperature? - I expect very little, still it is interesting to reflect that earth's radiative coupling to space reduces its surface temperature (from something which would melt rock) - we are not so much heated by the sun as cooled by the rest of the sky· Reply Earth sciences news on Phys.org AI finds formula for how to predict monster waves by using 700 years' worth of data Study examines how massive 2022 eruption changed stratosphere chemistry and dynamics NASA mission excels at spotting greenhouse gas emission sources Aug 10, 2023 #2 Frabjous Gold Member 1,370 1,611 It changes the albedo. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albedo Reply Like Likes AlexB23 and BillTre Reference: https://www.physicsforums.com/threads/how-does-the-loss-of-sea-ice-affect-earths-temperature.1054827/

Dr Suresh Ahuja thank you for your contribution to the discussion

The Sun doesn't heat the Earth evenly. Because the Earth is a sphere, the Sun heats equatorial regions more than Polar Regions. The atmosphere and ocean work non-stop to even out solar heating imbalances through evaporation of surface water, convection, rainfall, winds, and ocean circulation. Areas near the equator receive more direct solar radiation than areas near the poles. However, these areas do not constantly get warmer and warmer, because the ocean currents and winds transport the heat from the lower latitudes near the equator to higher latitudes near the poles. Because the Earth is a sphere, the surface gets much more intense sunlight (heat) at the equator than at the poles. During the equinox the Sun passes directly overhead at noon on the equator. Solar radiation at the Earth's surface varies from the solar radiation incident on the Earth's atmosphere. Cloud cover, air pollution, latitude of a location, and the time of the year can all cause variations in solar radiance at the Earth's surface. Because the Earth is nearly round, the equator receives direct light, and the poles receive slanted light, with a gradation in between. Due to the differential heating of the Earth's surface (unequal heating of all regions), it is always warmer at the equator than at the poles. Due to the curvature of the Earth, a beam of light striking the Equator passes through less atmosphere than one at a higher latitude. As the amount of atmosphere through which the beam passes increases, the greater the chance for reflection and scattering of light to occur, thus reducing insolation at the surface. At higher latitudes, the angle of solar radiation is smaller, causing energy to be spread over a larger area of the surface and cooler temperatures.