What relationship between earth and the sun causes the seasons?

Answer 1

The Earth is tilted on its axis. 'Summer' (the warmest season) occurs when a hemisphere, either the northern hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, is tilted towards the Sun and thus receives more direct sunlight (the Sun is closer to the zenith and is above the horizon longer).

A common misconception is that the seasons have to do with the Earth being closer to the Sun due to the elliptical nature of its orbit. The orbit is elliptical and the Earth is closest to the Sun [aphelion] in early January, farthest away [perihelion] in early July. This has a minor effect on the seasons, but more important is the number of days and weeks the Sun is higher in the sky; near perihelion for the northern hemisphere (although the Sun is further away) the atmosphere has the opportunity to heat up more.

Twice during the year (spring and fall Equinox - around the 20th of March and September respectively), the Sun appears to circle more directly over the equator [the axis of the Earth is in a plane perpendicular to the orbit], and most areas of the globe receive similar amounts of daylight. The poles are exceptions, with extremely long periods of the Sun either above or below the horizon.

From late December to late March, the Southern Hemisphere experiences 'summer' while the Northern Hemisphere experiences 'winter'. From late June to late September, the position is the other extreme, and it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern.

These yearly changes in insolation (incoming energy from the Sun) cause the seasons, in conjunction with the prevailing directional wind patterns, ocean areas, currents, and pressure systems which all affect the local climate.

The tilt of the Earth in combination to its position during its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 2

The Earth is tilted on its axis. 'Summer' (the warmest season) occurs when a hemisphere, either the northern hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, is tilted towards the Sun and thus receives more direct sunlight (the Sun is closer to the zenith and is above the horizon longer).

A common misconception is that the seasons have to do with the Earth being closer to the Sun due to the elliptical nature of its orbit. The orbit is elliptical and the Earth is closest to the Sun [aphelion] in early January, farthest away [perihelion] in early July. This has a minor effect on the seasons, but more important is the number of days and weeks the Sun is higher in the sky; near perihelion for the northern hemisphere (although the Sun is further away) the atmosphere has the opportunity to heat up more.

Twice during the year (spring and fall Equinox - around the 20th of March and September respectively), the Sun appears to circle more directly over the equator [the axis of the Earth is in a plane perpendicular to the orbit], and most areas of the globe receive similar amounts of daylight. The poles are exceptions, with extremely long periods of the Sun either above or below the horizon.

From late December to late March, the Southern Hemisphere experiences 'summer' while the Northern Hemisphere experiences 'winter'. From late June to late September, the position is the other extreme, and it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern.

These yearly changes in insolation (incoming energy from the Sun) cause the seasons, in conjunction with the prevailing directional wind patterns, ocean areas, currents, and pressure systems which all affect the local climate.

The tilt of the Earth in combination to its position during its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 3

The Earth is tilted on its axis. 'Summer' (the warmest season) occurs when a hemisphere, either the northern hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, is tilted towards the Sun and thus receives more direct sunlight (the Sun is closer to the zenith and is above the horizon longer).

A common misconception is that the seasons have to do with the Earth being closer to the Sun due to the elliptical nature of its orbit. The orbit is elliptical and the Earth is closest to the Sun [aphelion] in early January, farthest away [perihelion] in early July. This has a minor effect on the seasons, but more important is the number of days and weeks the Sun is higher in the sky; near perihelion for the northern hemisphere (although the Sun is further away) the atmosphere has the opportunity to heat up more.

Twice during the year (spring and fall Equinox - around the 20th of March and September respectively), the Sun appears to circle more directly over the equator [the axis of the Earth is in a plane perpendicular to the orbit], and most areas of the globe receive similar amounts of daylight. The poles are exceptions, with extremely long periods of the Sun either above or below the horizon.

From late December to late March, the Southern Hemisphere experiences 'summer' while the Northern Hemisphere experiences 'winter'. From late June to late September, the position is the other extreme, and it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern.

These yearly changes in insolation (incoming energy from the Sun) cause the seasons, in conjunction with the prevailing directional wind patterns, ocean areas, currents, and pressure systems which all affect the local climate.

The tilt of the Earth in combination to its position during its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 4

The Earth is tilted on its axis. 'Summer' (the warmest season) occurs when a hemisphere, either the northern hemisphere or the Southern Hemisphere, is tilted towards the Sun and thus receives more direct sunlight (the Sun is closer to the zenith and is above the horizon longer).

A common misconception is that the seasons have to do with the Earth being closer to the Sun due to the elliptical nature of its orbit. The orbit is elliptical and the Earth is closest to the Sun [aphelion] in early January, farthest away [perihelion] in early July. This has a minor effect on the seasons, but more important is the number of days and weeks the Sun is higher in the sky; near perihelion for the northern hemisphere (although the Sun is further away) the atmosphere has the opportunity to heat up more.

Twice during the year (spring and fall Equinox - around the 20th of March and September respectively), the Sun appears to circle more directly over the equator [the axis of the Earth is in a plane perpendicular to the orbit], and most areas of the globe receive similar amounts of daylight. The poles are exceptions, with extremely long periods of the Sun either above or below the horizon.

From late December to late March, the Southern Hemisphere experiences 'summer' while the Northern Hemisphere experiences 'winter'. From late June to late September, the position is the other extreme, and it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern.

These yearly changes in insolation (incoming energy from the Sun) cause the seasons, in conjunction with the prevailing directional wind patterns, ocean areas, currents, and pressure systems which all affect the local climate.

The tilt of the Earth in combination to its position during its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 5

The Earth is tilted on its axis. 'Summer' (the warmest season) occurs when a hemisphere, either the northern hemisphere or the southern hemisphere, is tilted towards the Sun and thus receives more direct sunlight (the Sun is closer to the zenith and is above the horizon longer).

A common misconception is that the seasons have to do with the Earth being closer to the Sun due to the elliptical nature of its orbit. The orbit is elliptical and the Earth is closest to the Sun [aphelion] in early January, farthest away [perihelion] in early July. This has a minor effect on the seasons, but more important is the number of days and weeks the Sun is higher in the sky; near perihelion for the northern hemisphere (although the Sun is further away) the atmosphere has the opportunity to heat up more.

Twice during the year (spring and fall Equinox - around the 20th of March and September respectively), the Sun appears to circle more directly over the equator [the axis of the Earth is in a plane perpendicular to the orbit], and most areas of the globe receive similar amounts of daylight. The poles are exceptions, with extremely long periods of the Sun either above or below the horizon.

From late December to late March, the Southern Hemisphere experiences 'summer' while the Northern Hemisphere experiences 'winter'. From late June to late September, the position is the other extreme, and it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere, winter in the Southern.

These yearly changes in insolation (incoming energy from the Sun) cause the seasons, in conjunction with the prevailing directional wind patterns, ocean areas, currents, and pressure systems which all affect the local climate.

The tilt of the Earth in combination to its position during its orbit around the Sun.

Answer 6

Seasons are caused by the tilt of Earth's axis, which is 23.5 degrees (with respect to the perpendicular to the plane of Earth's orbit). This results in parts of the Earth getting more sunlight at some times of the year, and less sunlight at others.

Answer 7

The reason for the northern hemisphere summer/ southern hemisphere winter is that at the time of the June solstice the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer. The reason for the northern hemisphere winter/ southern hemisphere summer is that at the time of the December solstice the sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn. The reason for spring and fall is that at the times of the March and September equinoxes the sun is directly over the equator.

Answer 8

The tilt of Earth's axis as it orbits around the Sun causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This tilt results in the changing angle of sunlight hitting the Earth's surface, leading to the different seasons.

Answer 9

The change in earth’s tilt toward the sun.