Earth is closest to the sun in January when it is winter in the northern hemisphere how is this possible?

A) the sun is heating the northern hemisphere more in the winter, but it takes a while for it to heat up
B) the sun is smaller during the winter months
C) the angle at which the sun strikes, or is more important than the distance
D) it heats up to a higher temperature during the day, but it still ends up, colder because the days are shorter

1 answer

C) the angle at which the sun strikes, or is more important than the distance

The Earth's distance from the sun does not change significantly throughout the year, as its orbit is nearly circular. However, the tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for the changing seasons. During winter in the northern hemisphere, the axial tilt causes sunlight to strike the hemisphere at a lower angle, leading to less direct and less intense solar radiation. This leads to colder temperatures despite being closer to the sun. Therefore, the angle at which the sun strikes is more important than the distance in determining the seasons.