Here's why:
* Angle of Incidence: At solar noon, the sun's rays hit the Earth at the most direct angle (closest to perpendicular). This means the energy is spread over a smaller area, resulting in higher intensity.
* Atmospheric Absorption: The sun's rays have to pass through the atmosphere. The longer the path through the atmosphere, the more energy is absorbed or scattered. At solar noon, the path through the atmosphere is shortest, minimizing absorption.
However, the exact time of solar noon varies throughout the year and based on your location's longitude. It's not necessarily the same as 12:00 PM on your clock.
