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Different seasons on Earth
Why do we have different seasons?
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1 Reply
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We have different seasons because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis and its orbit around the Sun. The Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. This means that as the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year, leading to the changing seasons.
During the summer season in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., June, July, and August), the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun. This results in the Sun’s rays hitting the Northern Hemisphere more directly, causing the days to be longer and the sunlight to be more concentrated. This leads to warmer temperatures and is why it is summer during this time.
On the other hand, during the winter season in the Northern Hemisphere (e.g., December, January, and February), the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun. This means that the Sun’s rays hit the Northern Hemisphere at a more oblique angle, leading to shorter days and less concentrated sunlight. As a result, temperatures are colder, and it is winter.
The opposite is true for the Southern Hemisphere. When it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere because the South Pole is tilted away from the Sun. Likewise, when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere because the South Pole is tilted towards the Sun.
During the transition periods between seasons (spring and autumn or fall), the Earth is positioned in a way that the tilt is neither towards nor away from the Sun. This results in more balanced daylight hours and moderate temperatures.
So, the changing seasons occur because of the Earth’s axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun, which causes variations in the amount and intensity of sunlight received throughout the year in different parts of the world.
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