Atmosphere

The global heat budget is the balance between incoming and outgoing solar radiation. Incoming solar energy varies at different times of year and for different locations across the globe.

There is a surplus of energy at the tropics and a deficit in polar areas. Atmospheric and oceanic circulation redistributes this energy, maintaining the global energy balance.

The ITCZ is a zone of convergence at the thermal equator. It is a low pressure belt, migrating with the thermal equator, resulting in a band of heavy precipitation around the globe.