The combination of Earth's revolution around the Sun and Earth’s tilted axis result in seasonal temperature changes. The tilt of Earth's axis causes the total number of daylight hours certain parts of Earth receives to change as Earth revolves around the Sun.
Earth's Tilt Causes the total Number of Daylight Hours to Change around the world.
As Earth revolves around the Sun, the tilt of its axis (23½ degrees) determines the amount of time that the Sun is shining on a specific portion of Earth. This difference in the amount of time that an area receives sunlight results in changes in the length of day.
- When the tilt of Earth is toward the Sun in a particular hemisphere, it experiences a longer day, and thus the temperature increases causing seasonal changes including summer.
- When the tilt of Earth is away from the Sun in a particular hemisphere, it experiences a shorter day and thus the temperature decreases causing seasonal changes including winter.
Notice how the hours of daylight changes at each location from summer and winter as a result of Earth's tilt
Polar Days & Polar NightsThe polar night is a phenomenon where nighttime lasts for more than 24 hours. The opposite phenomenon, the polar day, or midnight sun, occurs when the Sun remains above the horizon for more than 24 hours. This occurs in the northernmost and southernmost regions of Earth.
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What is Daylight Savings Time About?
Daylight Saving Time (DST) is the practice of setting the clocks forward one hour from standard time during the summer months, and back again in the fall, in order to make better use of natural daylight. Approximately 1.5 billion people in 70 countries observe DST worldwide. In the United States, 48 states participate in Daylight Saving Time. Arizona, Hawaii, some Amish communities, and the American territories (American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Northern Mariana Islands) do not observe DST.
Should the United States Keep Daylight Savings Time?
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Topic Tips
- The tilt of its axis determines the amount of time that the Sun is shining on a specific portion of Earth. This difference in the amount of time that an area receives sunlight results in changes in the length of day and predictable temperature changes.