On June 21, why is there greater solar energy at the North Pole than the Equator? The North Pole is closer to the Sun than the Equator on that date. The Sun hits the North Pole more directly on that date. Although the solar intensity at the North Pole is less than at the Equator, there are many more hours of daylight. The hole in the ozone layer allows more sunlight to reach the North Pole in the summer.