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Many people believe that Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and that is why it is hotter. And, likewise, they think Earth is farthest from the Sun in the winter.
Although this idea makes sense, it is incorrect.
It is true that Earth's orbit is not a perfect circle. It is a bit lop-sided. During part of the year, Earth is closer to the Sun than at other times. However, in the Northern Hemisphere, we are having winter when Earth is closest to the Sun and summer when it is farthest away! Compared with how far away the Sun is, this change in Earth's distance throughout the year does not make much difference to our weather.
There is a different reason for Earth's seasons.
Earth's axis is an imaginary pole going right through the center of Earth from "top" to "bottom." Earth spins around this pole, making one complete turn each day. That is why we have day and night, and why every part of Earth's surface gets some of each.
Earth has seasons because its axis doesn't stand up straight.
But what caused Earth to tilt?
Long, long ago, when Earth was young, it is thought that something big hit Earth and knocked it off-kilter. So instead of rotating with its axis straight up and down, it leans over a bit.
By the way, that big thing that hit Earth is called Theia. It also blasted a big hole in the surface. That big hit sent a huge amount of dust and rubble into orbit. Most scientists think that that rubble, in time, became our Moon.
As Earth orbits the Sun, its tilted axis always points in the same direction. So, throughout the year, different parts of Earth get the Sun’s direct rays.
Sometimes it is the North Pole tilting toward the Sun (around June) and sometimes it is the South Pole tilting toward the Sun (around December).
It is summer in June in the Northern Hemisphere because the Sun's rays hit that part of Earth more directly than at any other time of the year. It is winter in December in the Northern Hemisphere, because that is when it is the South Pole's turn to be tilted toward the Sun.
Earth's lopsided orbit
Earth's perihelion (point closest to Sun) = 91,400,000 miles from Sun
Earth's aphelion (point farthest from Sun) = 94,500,000 miles from Sun
While that is a difference of over 3 million miles, relative to the entire distance, it isn’t much.
And, believe it or not, aphelion (when Earth is farthest from the Sun) occurs in July, and perihelion (when we are closest) occurs in January. For those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere where it's summer in July and winter in January, that seems backwards, doesn't it? That just goes to prove that Earth's distance from the Sun is not the cause of the seasons.
Related Resources for Educators
Seasons (Educator Guide to go with Seasons Spotlite video)
Seasons (Nearpod Lesson to go with Seasons Spotlite video)
Our World: Sun's Position
Sun's Position (Educator Guide to go with Sun's Position Spotlite video)
Sun's Position (Nearpod Lesson to go with Sun's Position Spotlite video)
There are only two times of the year when the Earth’s axis is tilted neither toward nor away from the sun resulting in a “nearly” equal amount of daylight and darkness at all latitudes. These events are referred to as Equinoxes. The word equinox is derived from two Latin words – aequus (equal) and nox (night).
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Why do winds get deflected?
Because the Earth rotates on its axis circulating air is deflected toward the right in the Northern Hemisphere and toward the left in the Southern Hemisphere. This deflection is called the Coriolis effect. … This deflection is called the Coriolis effect.
What is the basic cause of the cycle of seasons on Earth?
As the earth spins on its axis producing night and day it also moves about the sun in an elliptical (elongated circle) orbit that requires about 365 1/4 days to complete. The earth’s spin axis is tilted with respect to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons.
Why does southern hemisphere have summer season in December?
Answer: Inversely summer for the southern hemisphere takes place during the months of December January and February because that is when it receives the most direct sunlight. Did you know that the earth is approximately 3.2 million miles closer to the sun in January than in June?
Why does the Northern Hemisphere experience spring in March while the southern hemisphere experiences fall?
The north end of Earth’s axis is tilted toward the Sun. Why does the Northern Hemisphere experience spring in March while the Southern Hemisphere experiences fall? The Northern and Southern Hemispheres get the same amount of energy from the Sun in March. … The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer.
Why is it summer in North America and winter in Australia?
It’s because the spin of the Earth is actually wonky. The axis of the Earth is tilted which means that in summer we (in the UK) are leaning towards the Sun. As we travel around the Sun we begin to tilt away and it becomes winter. … This is why when we have winter Australia has summer.
How do seasons in the Northern Hemisphere differ from seasons in the Southern Hemisphere quizlet?
Earth’s tilted axis causes the season. The seasons are reversed in the southern hemisphere because when the northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun the southern hemisphere is tilted away from it. … The cause of seasons on Earth is because Earth revolves around the sun.
How are seasons different in the northern and southern hemispheres quizlet?
The Northern and Southern hemispheres have opposite temperatures. In the summer when the Northern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun and receiving direct sunlight so it is warm. But in the Southern hemisphere they are tilted away from the sun and receiving indirect sunlight so it is cold.
Why is it summer in the Northern Hemisphere when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere group of answer choices?
The northern hemisphere receives less sunlight during the winter because of the tilt of the Earth and its location in its orbit around the sun. The sun appears to rise in the southeast and set in the southwest. … As a result the norther hemisphere has less hours of direct sunlight in the summer.
Why are the seasons reversed above and below the equator?
Because Earth’s axis is tilted the ecliptic is tilted by about 23.5° relative to the celestial equator. As a result where we see the Sun in the sky changes as the year wears on. … In December when the Sun is south of the celestial equator the situation is reversed.
Why do some countries have four seasons and others have only two?
The four seasons happen because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis. At different times of the year the sun’s rays hit different parts of the globe more directly. The angle of the Earth’s axis tilts the Northern Hemisphere towards the sun during the summer. Without the tilt of the earth’s axis we wouldn’t have seasons.
What causes the seasons to change rotation or revolution?
Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Throughout the year different parts of Earth receive the Sun’s most direct rays. So when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun it’s summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun it’s winter in the Northern Hemisphere.
When the Northern Hemisphere is pointing towards the sun What season is the Southern Hemisphere?
When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun latitudes between the equator and 90°N (the North Pole) are experiencing summer. At the same time the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and experiencing winter.
Which countries have 4 seasons?
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – Iran is one of the only countries in the world which has the complete four seasons.
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What season does the Southern Hemisphere experience when it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere?
When it is winter in the northern half of Earth the southern hemisphere tilted toward our Sun has summer. During fall and spring some locations on Earth experience similar milder conditions.
Why is there a severe difference in the climates of northern and Southern Hemisphere?
The biggest factor in differences in the climate in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres has to do with the distribution of land vs. ocean. The Northern Hemisphere has much more of Earth’s land masses while the Southern Hemisphere has a larger fraction of ocean.
Why do the northern and southern parts of Earth have contrasting winter and summer while areas close to the equator do not?
The seasons are caused as the Earth tilted on its axis travels in a loop around the Sun each year. Summer happens in the hemisphere tilted towards the Sun and winter happens in the hemisphere tilted away from the Sun. … At the equator there are no seasons because each day the Sun strikes at about the same angle.
What is the difference in climate between the northern and southern hemispheres?
In Earth’s present-day climate the annually-averaged surface air temperature in the Northern Hemisphere (NH) is ? 1.5°C higher than in the Southern Hemisphere (SH). This interhemispheric temperature difference has been known for a long time and scientists have pondered over its origin for centuries.
What is the biggest difference between the northern and southern hemisphere?
The Northern Hemisphere lies above the Equator while the Southern Hemisphere lies below the Equator. The hemispheres have different amounts of land mass different amounts of ocean and sea different populations (or amount of people living there) and different weather patterns.
What is the difference between a northern and southern hemisphere compass?
In the northern hemisphere the magnetic field dips downward toward the north (the dip angle) which would cause the north-pointing end of the needle to droop downward. … Simple compasses for use in the southern hemisphere have the north-pointing end of the needle weighted to prevent this.
Why does Antarctica in the Southern Hemisphere experience each season for half a year?
Explanation: This is because being at the extreme poles during revolution it is either directly facing towards the sun or away from the sun (because of the tilt of earth’s axis).