How does the tilt of Earth’s axis and its movement around the sun play a part in the changing of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere?'

1 answer

The tilt of Earth's axis and its movement around the sun play a crucial role in the changing of the seasons in the Northern Hemisphere.

The Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane around the sun. This means that as the Earth moves around the sun, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.

During the summer solstice, which occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the sun. This results in the Northern Hemisphere receiving more direct sunlight and longer days. The increased amount of sunlight leads to higher temperatures and the onset of summer.

Conversely, during the winter solstice, which falls around December 21st in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted away from the sun. This causes the Northern Hemisphere to receive less direct sunlight and shorter days, leading to lower temperatures and the arrival of winter.

In between these solstices, during the spring and autumnal equinoxes, which occur around March 20th and September 22nd respectively, the Earth's axis is not tilted directly towards or away from the sun. This results in a more balanced distribution of sunlight across the Northern Hemisphere, leading to milder temperatures and the progression from spring to summer or from summer to autumn.

In summary, the tilt of Earth's axis and its orbital movement around the sun cause varying amounts of sunlight to reach the Northern Hemisphere throughout the year, resulting in the changing of the seasons.