Which of the following is true about the amount of sunlight and heat arriving on Earth?

Options

A. Every place on Earth receives the same annual number of hours of sunlight and the same amount of heat.
B. Every place on Earth receives the same annual number of hours of sunlight, but not the same amount of heat.
C. Every place on Earth receives the same annual amount of heat, but not the same number of hours of sunlight.
D. Both the annual amount of sunlight and the amount of heat received vary over the surface of Earth.

Answer

To determine which statement is true about the amount of sunlight and heat arriving on Earth, we can analyze the options step by step.

### Step-by-Step Solution:

1. **Understanding Sunlight and Heat Distribution**:
- The Earth receives sunlight from the Sun, but this distribution is not uniform across the globe. Different regions receive varying amounts of sunlight and heat due to factors such as the curvature of the Earth, axial tilt, and atmospheric conditions.

2. **Evaluating the Statements**:
- **Statement 1**: Every place on Earth receives the same annual number of hours of sunlight and the same amount of heat.
- This is incorrect. Different latitudes receive different amounts of sunlight and heat.

- **Statement 2**: Every place on Earth receives the same annual number of hours of sunlight but not the same amount of heat.
- This is partially correct. While some regions do experience similar hours of sunlight, the intensity and amount of heat received vary significantly due to geographical and climatic differences.

- **Statement 3**: Every place on Earth receives the same annual amount of heat but not the same hours of sunlight.
- This is incorrect. The amount of heat is dependent on the intensity of sunlight received, which varies with the number of sunlight hours.

- **Statement 4**: Both the annual amount of sunlight and the amount of heat received may vary on the surface of the Earth.
- This statement is true. Different regions receive varying amounts of sunlight and heat due to their geographical location and other factors.

3. **Conclusion**:
- The most accurate statement regarding the amount of sunlight and heat arriving on Earth is **Statement 4**: "Both the annual amount of sunlight and the amount of heat received may vary on the surface of the Earth."

### Final Answer:
- The correct answer is **Statement 4**.