Climate

I was wondering how climate was explained. With a round earth the Equator is the hottest, obviously because it is closest to the sun. However, in a Flat Earth the types of climates we see are expected to arise how?

I really am quite curious to how this would work out.

On a flat Earth the equator is closest to the sun too.  Please read the FAQ.

I read the FAQ and I dont think it makes very much sense. If the Earth is flat, then how does it face the sun? does it stand on its side like a quarter?  Is it flat like a coin on the table, because if that was the case, there would be no way for sunlight to adequately hit the earth for proper warming.

Is it flat like a coin on the table, because if that was the case, there would be no way for sunlight to adequately hit the earth for proper warming.

Why's that?

Well in the current Round Earth model, the Equator (the closest area to the sun) is also the warmest. This is due to obvious reasons- its the closest. Now if the earth were flat, then all the areas of the world would have an equal exposure to the sun, and yet the sort of climate we should expect to see at the Equator does not take place everywhere. Instead we have numerous climate types and biomes which allign quite well with the amount of sun exposure they receive.

So I must know what is the relationship in which the sun and earth face eachother? Like 2 coins standing on their sides? Or a different variation?

Not that it matters much at this point, but I thought I'd clear something up. (I'm talking RET here) The areas along the equator aren't hotter  because they are closer to the sun, it's because they receive sunlight at a more direct angle than other areas of the earth.

The actual distance to the sun is but a fraction different from the equator to the poles.

Right, but even then its enough to effect the climates of various areas.

Well in the current Round Earth model, the Equator (the closest area to the sun) is also the warmest. This is due to obvious reasons- its the closest. Now if the earth were flat, then all the areas of the world would have an equal exposure to the sun, and yet the sort of climate we should expect to see at the Equator does not take place everywhere. Instead we have numerous climate types and biomes which allign quite well with the amount of sun exposure they receive.

So I must know what is the relationship in which the sun and earth face eachother? Like 2 coins standing on their sides? Or a different variation?

I thought you said you read the FAQ.  The relationship of the sun to the Earth is laid out quite specifically there.

The sun is round (according to most FEers) and orbits the celestial hub (a point above the north pole) above the equator.  The precise proximity of the sun to the equator varies through the year (accounting for the seasons) but only slightly.  But you see, in FE the reason the equator is the hottest part of Earth is that it is closest to the sun, and by the same token the northern and southern extremities are the coldest parts of the Earth because they are furthest from the sun.

Right, but even then its enough to effect the climates of various areas.

Again, if you're referring to the distance of the earth from the sun, not really.  It's barely a factor.  The primary reason for temperature and climate differences on earth is the angle of the sun's rays in relation to the surface of the earth.

The sun is about 93 million miles from the earth. A few thousand miles one way or the other is hardly a factor in the surface temperature here.

Not that it matters much at this point, but I thought I'd clear something up. (I'm talking RET here) The areas along the equator aren't hotter  because they are closer to the sun, it's because they receive sunlight at a more direct angle than other areas of the earth.

The actual distance to the sun is but a fraction different from the equator to the poles.

The same is true for RET, I gather - as you go towards the Poles the Earth's surface curves away from The Sun and its rays glance in at a shallower angle reducing the incident intensity.

It probably has something to do with cosines ...

Quote from: equinox on June 19, 2009, 12:48:47 PM

Not that it matters much at this point, but I thought I'd clear something up. (I'm talking RET here) The areas along the equator aren't hotter  because they are closer to the sun, it's because they receive sunlight at a more direct angle than other areas of the earth.

The actual distance to the sun is but a fraction different from the equator to the poles.

The same is true for RET, I gather - as you go towards the Poles the Earth's surface curves away from The Sun and its rays glance in at a shallower angle reducing the incident intensity.

It probably has something to do with cosines ...

Cosines I have no idea about, but I'd assume it's due to the angle at which the suns rays hit the atmosphere and are refracted/reflected.

On a related point, does the FE have something similar to the Milankovitch cycle?  Where small alterations of the axis the Earth orbits at has a (sometimes dramatic) effect on the climate?