In school (US) I moved around a lot and I feel like I learned two separate theories on what makes seasons change: 1) the tilt of the Earth on it’s axis and 2) the distance of the Earth from the Sun during its yearly trip around. I understand that (1) is correct, but why does the slight tilt of the Earth make more of a difference than the actual distance from the Sun? And how is it possible that it’s difference is so significant that the Northern and Southern Hemispheres experience their seasons at different times?
In: Physics
The Earths tilt make cause a difference between the amount of sunlight each hemisphere gets. Now the Northern hemisphere gets more sunlight than Southern and therefore it is summer in Northern hemisphere. When it is winter in Northern hemisphere, Southern hemisphere gets more sunlight. Sunlight causes differences in the temperatures and that causes seasons. The further away from Equator you are, the bigger the difference between summer and winter is. Also sea currents and winds affect seasons in different areas. For example Northern Europe would have colder winters without the Golf current in the Atlantic ocean.
The distance between Earth and Sun is smallest at Northern winter. That doesn’t effect the seasons much.
Latest Answers