The Sun is the Primary Source of Energy for Earth's Climate System
The sun warms the planet, drives the hydrologic cycle, and makes life on Earth possible. The amount of sunlight received on Earth's surface is affected by the reflectivity of the surface, the angle of the sun, the output of the sun, and the cyclic variations of Earth's orbit around the sun.
The basic science of solar energy and the role it plays in Earth's climate can be understood by middle school students, but the complexities of the Earth's energy balance remain an area of active scientific research. Thus, this topic is both elemental and complex.
