Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Months Solar Flux Seasonal Lag
Northern Hemisphere Southern Hemisphere Months Solar Flux Seasonal Lag
Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution.[ !["! #n temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the intensity of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface, variations of which may cause animals to go into hibernation or to migrate, and plants to be dormant. During May, June, and July, the northern hemisphere is exposed to more direct sunlight because the hemisphere faces the sun. The same is true of the southern hemisphere in November, December, and January. t is the tilt of the !arth that causes the Sun to be higher in the s"y during the summer months #hich increases the solar flux. $o#ever, due to seasonal lag, June, July, and %ugust are the hottest months in the northern hemisphere and December, January, and &ebruary are the hottest months in the southern hemisphere. n temperate and subpolar regions, four calendar'based seasons (#ith their ad)ectives* are generally recogni+ed: spring (vernal*, summer (estival*, autumn (autumnal* and winter (hibernal*. !cologists often use a six'season model for temperate climate regions that includes pre-spring (prevernal* and late summer (serotinal* as distinct seasons along #ith the traditional four.