Rotate the ball. Some times, the light hits the spot directly. Other times, the light is less intense. Here's how it works. Land and water absorb the sun's heat and release it back into the atmosphere.
Warm air rises over the hotter areas.
The heavier, cooler air from colder regions moves in to replace it. The air currents caused by this movement help distributed the heat more evenly. The amount of heat that is absorbed and released into the atmosphere depends on the shape of the land, the kind of soil and vegetation, and the amount of surface water in the area. Buildings and paved surfaces also absorb and retain heat, influencing local climates. Water heats up more slowly than land, but it holds its heat longer.