LET'S EXPLORE The Earth
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Why do we have seasons?
In many parts of the world, the weather changes according to the time of year. These different periods, spring, summer, autumn and winter, are called the seasons. They occur because as the Earth spins, it is not upright but tilted. Regions close to the Equator, the tropics, are hot all year round. To the north or south of the tropics are temperate lands. Here, the seasons are clearly marked.
Solstice
Because the Earth is tilted, its northern half, the Northern Hemisphere, leans towards the Sun for a part of the year. The Sun is nearer, so it is warmer: this is summer. The solstice, the day when the Sun is closest of all, falls on 21st June. The Southern Hemisphere is further away from the Sun, so it has winter.
Later in the year, the Southern Hemisphere is nearer the Sun and has its summer. The solstice falls on 22nd December. The Northern Hemisphere is further away and has winter.
Equinox
On two days of the year, the Sun shines directly overhead at the Equator. Everywhere on Earth there are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness. On 21st March, in the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins, while in the Southern Hemisphere, autumn begins. On 23rd September, it is the other way round: autumn begins in the Northern Hemisphere and spring begins in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winter
Winter brings snow and ice. Deciduous trees have lost their leaves. To survive the cold, some animals sleep through the winter. This is called hibernation.
Spring
When spring comes, plants and flowers start to grow again. Leaves on deciduous trees burst into bud. The weather is warmer, and many animals and birds make nests, give birth to their young and search for food for them. Crops sown in the fields are now growing.
Summer
Summer days are long, sunny and warm. Tree leaves are fully open and their fruits ripen. Farmers harvest their crops. Birds that migrated to warmer lands for winter have returned. They feed on the rich variety of insects and fruits.
Autumn
In the autumn—also called the fall in the United States—the leaves on the trees turn brown, yellow or red and fall to the ground. Migrating birds fly off to warmer countries for the winter. Some animals store food and find a warm, dry place to sleep. Farmers plough their fields to prepare the soil for next year’s crops.
Tropical seasons
In tropical or subtropical regions (lands lying close to the tropics), there are only two seasons: dry and wet (rainy). The amount of rainfall in each season varies much more than the temperature.
Land of the Midnight Sun
Because of Earth's tilt, lands near the poles face towards the Sun for most of the summer and away from it for much of the winter. Summer days are very long, winter days very short. There is at least one day when the Sun never dips below the horizon. Because of this, Northern Scandinavia and other lands in the far north are sometimes called the “Land of the Midnight Sun”.
Consultant: Ian Fairchild
Ready to find out more?
Here is a page in another part of Q-files you might like to explore:
Seasons