[Colin2B]

The current peoples view of light spread over a wider area for winter is seeming less likely.

Only in your view
You can do an experiment with a solar panel. Hold it so it's front face is directly towards the sun, if you slowly rotate it so it finally has the edge pointing at the sun you will find the output decreases from a maximum when facing directly at right angles getting less as the angle is increased and the light hits at an oblique angle. No effect from atmospheric depth which is constant in this case. The important consideration is what effective area is pointing directly at the sun.

[paulggriffiths (OP)]

The current peoples view of light spread over a wider area for winter is seeming less likely.

Only in your view
You can do an experiment with a solar panel. Hold it so it's front face is directly towards the sun, if you slowly rotate it so it finally has the edge pointing at the sun you will find the output decreases from a maximum when facing directly at right angles getting less as the angle is increased and the light hits at an oblique angle. No effect from atmospheric depth which is constant in this case. The important consideration is what effective area is pointing directly at the sun.

Nice try, if looking straight on it's the power of 10 cm wide, if rotated some it's only the power of 5 cm wide.
Have you round one?

[paulggriffiths (OP)]

There's such a large difference between summer and winter but the earth is pretty much hit the same, it's only at a 23 degree after all, then theres heat transfer too.


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[paulggriffiths (OP)]

Found this, taking it for a spin. http://www.meteoearth.com/
And this https://earth.nullschool.net
Neither got the tilt though. 

[Colin2B]

Nice try, if looking straight on it's the power of 10 cm wide, if rotated some it's only the power of 5 cm wide.
Have you round one?

It's nothing to do with it being flat or round.

Look to your diagram here

There's such a large difference between summer and winter but the earth is pretty much hit the same, it's only at a 23 degree after all

No, the earth is not hit the same all over as explained by Evan. 
Look at you diagram in #22. Place the solar panel at the equator it will point directly at the sun and gather the maximum energy, place it in the higher latitudes it will be at an angle much greater than 23° and collecting less sunlight - the available photons are spread over a larger area. You can work out the effective collection area using simple geometry.

[RD]

You can do an experiment with a solar panel ...

Solar panel demonstration here ... https://youtu.be/KUU7IyfR34o?t=3m5s