Scribd
Upload
9 views4 pages

Environmental Syst

Earth's seasons are caused by its tilted axis, which leads to varying exposure to the Sun's rays throughout the year. Contrary to popular belief, Earth's distance from the Sun does not significantly affect seasonal temperatures, as summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, regardless of Earth's proximity. The tilt is thought to have resulted from a massive collision with a celestial body named Theia, which also contributed to the formation of the Moon.

Uploaded by

Niyonzima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
9 views4 pages

Environmental Syst

Earth's seasons are caused by its tilted axis, which leads to varying exposure to the Sun's rays throughout the year. Contrary to popular belief, Earth's distance from the Sun does not significantly affect seasonal temperatures, as summer occurs in the Northern Hemisphere when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, regardless of Earth's proximity. The tilt is thought to have resulted from a massive collision with a celestial body named Theia, which also contributed to the formation of the Moon.

Uploaded by

Niyonzima
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 4

Link to nasa.govLink to science.nasa.gov.Image that reads Space Place and links to spaceplace.nasa.gov.

Vea en Español

Search button.

What Causes the Seasons?

The Short Answer:

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.

It's all about Earth's tilt!

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?

Cartoon of large object hitting Earth, knocking out big chunks of material that become the future Moon,
and tilting the Earth's axis.

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.

Earth's tilt is the reason for the seasons. View of Earth in relation to Sun during each of the four seasons.
The hemisphere receiving the direct rays of the Sun has summer while the hemisphere tilted away from
the Sun, thus getting its rays from more of an angle, has winter.

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.

Drawing shows top-down view of Earth's orbit with Sun near center, showing distances from Sun at
aphelion and perihelion.

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)

article last updated July 22, 2021

If you liked this, you may like:

Similar Item 1 : Bad (space) weather cancels pigeon races!

Bad (space) weather cancels pigeon races!

Similar Item 1 : Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses

Lunar Eclipses and Solar Eclipses

Similar Item 1 : What Is a Solar Eclipse?

What Is a Solar Eclipse?

Illustration of a game controller that links to the Space Place Games menu.
Games

Illustration of scissors that links to the Space Place Crafts menu.

Crafts

Illustration of a hand that links to the Space Place Activities menu.

Activities

Illustration of a play button that links to the Space Place Videos menu.

Videos

Illustration of a book that links to the Space Place glossary.

Glossary

Illustration of a question mark that links to a random page on Space Place.

Mystery

More

By Subject

Space

Sun

Earth

Solar System

People & Technology

Parents & Educators

By Type

Explore

Do

Play

More

You might also like