How does latitude influence surface temperature?

Latitude significantly affects surface temperature due to the angle at which sunlight strikes the Earth. Near the equator, sunlight hits the surface more directly, resulting in higher temperatures. As one moves away from the equator towards higher latitudes, the angle of sunlight becomes increasingly oblique. This means that the same amount of solar energy is spread over a larger area, leading to lower temperatures.

In this scenario, areas that are farther away from the equator typically experience cooler climates. This trend continues up to the poles, where temperatures can be extremely low due to minimal direct sunlight. Therefore, as latitude increases, temperatures generally decrease, corroborating the idea that areas further from the equator tend to have cooler climates.