There are two primary reasons why it is hotter at the equator than at higher latitudes:

However, the warmest places on Earth are not always located at the equator. This is because there are other factors that can affect temperature, such as altitude, ocean currents, and cloud cover. For example, the highest recorded temperature on Earth was 134°F (56.7°C) in Death Valley, California, which is located at an altitude of about 2,800 feet (850 meters). This is because the thin air at high altitudes traps more heat from the sun.

Here are some of the reasons why areas closest to the equator are not necessarily the warmest places on Earth:

• Altitude: As you move higher in elevation, the air becomes thinner and less able to trap heat. This is why mountain ranges are often cooler than the surrounding lowlands.
• Ocean currents: Ocean currents can transport warm water away from the equator and cold water towards it. For example, the Gulf Stream carries warm water from the Gulf of Mexico to Europe, which helps to warm the climate of Western Europe.
• Cloud cover: Clouds can reflect sunlight back into space, which can help to cool the Earth's surface. Areas with more cloud cover tend to be cooler than areas with less cloud cover.

In general, the temperature of a place is determined by a complex interplay of factors, including latitude, altitude, ocean currents, cloud cover, and vegetation cover. As a result, there is no single place that is always the warmest place on Earth.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

In general, the farther from the equator an area is, the colder and snowier it will be. This is because higher-latitude regions receive less light and energy from the Sun than low-latitude, tropical areas. When the sun's rays strike Earth's surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct. Therefore, the solar radiation is concentrated over a smaller surface area, causing warmer temperatures. Due to the spherical shape of the Earth, sunlight falls on different parts at different angles. Direct and focused sun rays falls on the equator and hence, the regions here are hotter and warmer. The Polar Regions receive diffused sun rays, which is why the areas there are colder. Since the Sun is overhead the equator, the sunlight falls straight on the equator. On the other hand, the sunlight falls slant on the poles. This is due to the fact that the Earth is spherical in shape and this result in higher temperatures in the equator region of the Earth as compared to 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. Solar radiation is most direct at, or close to, the equator and thus produces warmer temperatures. Farther from the equator and closer to the poles, solar radiation is less intense, and sunlight strikes Earth at less direct angles, resulting in cooler temperatures. Humid weather means that equatorial regions are not the hottest in the world, even though they are among the closest to the sun. The water in the equatorial air cools it slightly. Many cultures thrive in warm equatorial regions. In equitorial places ,the length of day and night always remains the same throughout the year and thus the amount of the solar isolation received and reflected remains almost constant leading to lower temperature range.Solar radiation is most direct at, or close to, the equator and thus produces warmer temperatures. Farther from the equator and closer to the poles, solar radiation is less intense, and sunlight strikes Earth at less direct angles, resulting in cooler temperatures. At high latitudes, however, the angle between sunlight and the surface means the incoming sunlight is less concentrated on the surface. As a result, the atmosphere is mostly heated by warm moist air coming from the tropics, which means there is much less vertical mixing.