Here's why:
* Angle of Incidence: The sun's rays hit the equator at a near-perpendicular angle (closer to 90 degrees). This means the energy is spread over a smaller area, resulting in a higher concentration of solar energy.
* Daylight Hours: The equator experiences nearly equal day and night hours throughout the year. This means there are more hours of sunlight to receive solar energy.
* Atmospheric Absorption: The sun's rays have to travel through less atmosphere to reach the equator compared to higher latitudes. This results in less absorption of solar energy.
While the equator itself receives a lot of solar energy, the areas slightly north and south, around the tropics, actually receive slightly more. This is because the Earth's tilt causes a slight shift in the sun's direct rays throughout the year.
