What if the earth were closer to the sun?

Answer 1

Because we are in an elliptical orbit around the Sun, the distance between it and the Earth is not constant. The point in our orbit when we are closest to the Sun is called the perihelion and this happens in early January. At this time, we are about 91,402,500 miles away from the Sun. The point in our orbit when we are farthest from the Sun is called the aphelion and this happens in early July. At the aphelion, we are 94,509,130 miles away from the Sun. Our distance from the Sun, then, varies over the course of the year by more than three million miles. It is fair to expect the closer we are to the Sun, the greater the heat we receive from it, but actually detecting changes caused by this change of three million miles is complicated by seasonal variations in temperature and topographical variations. In January, when we are closest to the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere, with most of the world's population, is experiencing Winter. In July, when we are farther from the Sun, most people are experiencing early Summer. The change in distance makes only a very small change in the amount of heat we receive from the sun, and the many other variables involved make it difficult to test how much of this is caused by our moving closer.

When the Earth moves closer to the Sun, the heat we receive from it increases, but we would have to move much closer before these effects were measurable and closer still before they became dangerous.

Answer 2

Venus, a planet similar to the earth in many ways, is closer to the sun - because of it's slow rotation and closeness to the sun, the ground temperature is about 900°F.

Simply put, if earth were closer to the sun, the water would vaporize (making earth unsustainable for life) - the boiling point of water is a mere 212°F.... and if we were any further, then life would also be impossible, because of the freezing point.

(info from John Clayton... "The Source")

Or in to make it short, the Earth would be to hot for life.

Answer 3

If Earth were closer to the Sun, temperatures would increase, potentially making the planet too hot to sustain life as we know it. The closer proximity could also affect Earth's orbit, leading to gravitational disruptions and changes in the climate.