2. Reasons for Seasons
The seasons on Earth change every 3
months. There are two main
causes for the change of seasons:
1. The axis of the Earth is tilted 23.5º
2. The Earth revolves around the Sun
once a year
3.
4. If the Earth tipped over a few more degrees,
the seasons would be more extreme (winter
would be colder and summer would be much
hotter).
If the Earth was tipped less, the seasons
would be less extreme.
If the Earth stood straight up, the Earth
would have never have seasons again, and
every place would have the same climate all
of the time. However, each location would
have a different climate.
5.
6. The First Day of Each Season
1. The first day of winter is called the Winter
Solstice. It is usually between December 20 and
22.
2. The first day of spring is the Vernal Equinox. It
is usually between March 20-23.
3. The first day of summer is called the Summer
Solstice. It is usually between June 20 and 22.
4. The first day of autumn (fall) is called the
Autumnal Equinox. It is usually between
September 20 and 23.
7.
8. The Southern Hemisphere has opposite
seasons from us. For example, June 21
is the first day of Winter in Australia.
You would not want to go there on your
summer vacation.
Places close to the
Equator do not
experience very big
seasonal changes. This
is because they receive
a more direct angle of
sunlight all year long.
9.
10. Seasonal Facts
1. In the summer, the Northern Hemisphere takes
in more energy than it gives off. That it one
reason why it is hotter.
2. In the winter, the Northern Hemisphere gives off
more energy than it takes in. That is one reason
why it is cooler.
3. The sun reaches the highest altitude at 12 noon
each day. The Sun is never overhead in NYS, or
any other place that is not between the Tropics.
11.
12. Spring Season
Spring is one of the four conventional temperate seasons,
following winter and preceding summer. There are various technical
definitions of spring, but local usage of the term varies according to local
climate, cultures and customs. When it is spring in the Northern
Hemisphere, it will be autumn in the Southern Hemisphere and vice versa.
At the spring equinox, days are approximately 12 hours long with day length
increasing as the season progresses.
13. Winter Season
Winter is the coldest season of the year
in polar and temperate climates,
between autumn and spring. Winter is caused by the
axis of the Earth in that hemisphere being oriented
away from the Sun. Different cultures define different
dates as the start of winter, and some use a definition
based on weather. When it is winter in the Northern
Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern
Hemisphere, and vice versa. In many regions, winter is
associated with snow and freezing temperatures
14. Summer Season
Summer is the hottest of the
four temperate seasons, falling
between spring and autumn. At the
summer solstice, the days are longest
and the nights are shortest, with day-
length decreasing as the season
progresses after the solstice. The date
of the beginning of summer varies
according to climate, tradition and
culture. When it is summer in
the Northern Hemisphere, it is winter in
the Southern Hemisphere, and vice
versa.
15. Autumn Season
Autumn, also known as fall in North
American English, is one of the
four temperate seasons. Autumn marks the
transition from summer to winter, in
September (Northern Hemisphere) or
March (Southern Hemisphere), when the
arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier
while the arrival of day becomes noticeably
later, and the temperature cools down
considerably. One of its main features is
the shedding of leaves from deciduous
trees.