As part of the greenhouse effect, Earth’s surface radiates heat back into the atmosphere and the atmosphere absorbs this heat. Why do areas near the equator generally radiate more energy back into the atmosphere than areas near the poles? Areas near the equator have more clouds in the atmosphere than areas near the poles. Areas near the equator receive more incoming solar energy than areas near the poles. The greenhouse effect only occurs near the equator. The greenhouse effect only occurs near the poles.