Earth has seasons because it revolves around the Sun on a tilted axis.
Why Does the Earth Have Seasons?
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 angle sunlight reaches Earth to change throughout the year and also alters the total number of daylight hours certain parts of Earth receives as it revolves around the Sun.
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Earth's Tilted Axis
The Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5* and remains pointed in the same direction at all times as the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Earth's Revolution Around the Sun
Because the tilt of Earth's axis remains the same as it revolves around the Sun it causes the angle sunlight that reaches Earth to change throughout the year. Earth's tilt also changes the total number of daylight hours certain parts of Earth receives to change as it revolves around the Sun.
The Northern & Southern Hemispheres Have Opposite Seasons!
The Northern and Southern Hemispheres have OPPOSITE seasons.
- When it's summer in the Northern hemisphere it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere.
- When it's spring in the Northern Hemisphere it is fall in the Southern Hemisphere.
The distance Earth is from the Sun during its elliptical orbit has nothing to do with seasonal changes in temperature on Earth. If Earth's distance from the Sun influenced Earth's seasons the Northern and Southern hemispheres would have the same seasons.
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The Northern Hemisphere is actually closer to the Sun during winter and farther from the Sun in the summer!
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Seasons Summary
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Topic Tips
- The combination of Earth's revolution around the Sun and Earth’s tilted axis result in seasonal temperature changes.
- Earth’s axis is tilted 23.5* and remains pointed in the same direction at all times as the Earth revolves around the Sun.
- The Northern and Southern Hemispheres have opposite seasons.