At 50 N latitude, you get approximately 8 hrs of daylight per day in the wintertime. The average daily insolation is around 150 W/m^2. The outgoing longwave flux, given a ground temperature of say 0 C, is around 300 W/m^2 (even if the ground temperature is -10 C the upward flux is 273 W/m^2, and you have to get to -40 C for the upward longwave flux to equal the downwelling solar flux). So in other words, when it is clear, the upward longwave blackbody flux (cooling the surface) is double the downward flux warming the surface. So the cooling dominates because the sun isn't shining for very long (there are 16 hours of darkness), and even when the sun is shining the average solar flux is less than the heat loss upwards.
When it is clear, that longwave radiation mostly escapes to space, so the air and ground stay cold. If clouds move in, then the clouds radiate that energy downwards and things don't cool off as much.
When the Arctic is tilted away from the sun, the sunlight that hits it is more dispersed and less sunlight hits every square meter. Focus a flashlight on a basketball, then move the focus towards the top. See how the circle of light spreads out. The same energy is spread across a wider surface.
It is the tilt of the earth that causes seasons.
This the same correct answer as J's. She gives a link that tries to show the same thing as the basketball. Use whichever helps you understand.
Snow and ice on the ground reflect the radiative energy right back out into space. Water vapor (clouds) are a far more powerful greenhouse gas than any other in the atmosphere. It's so powerful you can feel the effect immediately when the sun goes behind a cloud or on a cloudy night.
On a cold sunny day put something painted black under a clear container and it will heat up well.
We have seasons due to the tilt of the earth.
Winter is when your area of the planet is tilted farthest from the sun. It may be sunny, but you're getting much less sun than the areas tilted towards the sun, where it's much hotter.
That is the way it is in winter Clear skies tend to be cold day/nights
how come in winter like in Canada there can be clear sky's and it will be sunny but it will be like -10 degrees Celsius. shouldn't the sunlight heat up the atmosphere.
