Seasons
The seasons describe the changes in the weather that occur during the course of a year. Seasons of climate exist because of the tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation. During April to August, the Northern Hemisphere of the Earth is tilted towards the Sun and consequently receives more heat. April to August is the Northern Hemisphere summer. At this time, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, and receives less sunlight. This is the Southern Hemisphere winter. During October to February, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, whilst the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away. At this time, when it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In Europe and the United States, Christmas is celebrated with Christmas trees and snowmen. In Australia by contrast, it is celebrated by having a barbecue on the beach.
Near the equator, the changing orientation of the Earth towards the Sun during a year has little effect on climate, because the Sun is always fairly high in the sky during the day, and is therefore hotter. For this reason, temperatures in the tropics never fall much below 25°C. Instead, seasons in the tropics are divided into wet and dry periods, with one or two wet and dry seasons occurring in a year.
Near the poles, the Sun is never very high above the horizon, even in the summer months. During the winter months, it never rises above the horizon. The North and South Poles have six months of daylight followed by six months of darkness. This is why the polar regions are so cold.
| Seasons |
Print Topic
Websites
Other topics
Technical Page
• Weather Dude
• Seasons
• Introduction
• Average Weather
• British Climate
• Climate Change
• Climate Zones
• Desert Climate
• Global Climate
• Polar Climate
• Rainfall Patterns
• Seasons
• Temperate Climate
• Temperature Patterns
• Tropical Climate