Why do we have seasons?
Do you have a favorite season? Do you like the summer, the winter, the fall, or the spring?
Where you live determines how you experience the seasons. Warmer climates won’t see all the changes that those in cooler climates do. But below is a general description of the seasons.
Winter starts in mid-December and ends in mid-March in the northern hemisphere. The dates are different for the southern hemisphere. Winter is the coldest season of the year. Snow may fall from the sky when precipitation and cold temperatures mix. 32 degrees Fahrenheit/0 degrees Celsius is the freezing temperature, and in many places winter temperatures can fall below freezing.
Spring is the next season in the year. It begins in mid-March and ends in mid-June in the northern hemisphere. In the spring, the cold temperatures of winter steadily begin to get warmer, and the bare trees left over from winter begin to bloom with flowers and leaves. This is typically the rainy part of the year and the days gradually build in temperature.
Next is the season of summer! It is the hottest season of the year, beginning in mid-June and ending in mid-September in the northern hemisphere. It is a great season to go outdoors and enjoy the warm sunshine with favorite activities like swimming, hiking, camping, etc. In many countries, children have no school during the summer so it’s a great time to play or travel before they return to school.
Lastly, there is the season of autumn (fall). Autumn begins in mid-September and ends in mid-December in the northern hemisphere. The warm summer weather begins to cool down and the air feels fresh and crisp. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful bright colors like red, yellow, and orange and slowly begin to fall off the trees, awaiting the return of winter.
But why do these seasons occur?
Some places have less seasonal changes than others. Some have about the same weather and temperature year-round. Also, when it is winter in the United States, it is summer all the way across the globe in Australia! But why is this?
All of the seasonal changes are because the earth is tilted slightly, at about a 23.5 degree angle. When the earth leans toward the sun, the season of summer will occur and when the earth leans away from the sun winter will occur. Spring and fall (autumn) are in between.
The north and south poles never point exactly at the sun. When the northern hemisphere leans toward the sun, we have summer and the daylight lasts longer. When the northern hemisphere leans away from the sun, we have the season of winter and daylight doesn't last as long.
So seasons have to do with the fact that the earth is tilted, and the part of the earth leaning towards the sun determines what season it is in your part of the world. The closer you live to the equator, the warmer your climate will be and the less change of season you will notice.
Where you live determines how you experience the seasons. Warmer climates won’t see all the changes that those in cooler climates do. But below is a general description of the seasons.
Winter starts in mid-December and ends in mid-March in the northern hemisphere. The dates are different for the southern hemisphere. Winter is the coldest season of the year. Snow may fall from the sky when precipitation and cold temperatures mix. 32 degrees Fahrenheit/0 degrees Celsius is the freezing temperature, and in many places winter temperatures can fall below freezing.
Spring is the next season in the year. It begins in mid-March and ends in mid-June in the northern hemisphere. In the spring, the cold temperatures of winter steadily begin to get warmer, and the bare trees left over from winter begin to bloom with flowers and leaves. This is typically the rainy part of the year and the days gradually build in temperature.
Next is the season of summer! It is the hottest season of the year, beginning in mid-June and ending in mid-September in the northern hemisphere. It is a great season to go outdoors and enjoy the warm sunshine with favorite activities like swimming, hiking, camping, etc. In many countries, children have no school during the summer so it’s a great time to play or travel before they return to school.
Lastly, there is the season of autumn (fall). Autumn begins in mid-September and ends in mid-December in the northern hemisphere. The warm summer weather begins to cool down and the air feels fresh and crisp. The leaves on the trees turn beautiful bright colors like red, yellow, and orange and slowly begin to fall off the trees, awaiting the return of winter.
But why do these seasons occur?
Some places have less seasonal changes than others. Some have about the same weather and temperature year-round. Also, when it is winter in the United States, it is summer all the way across the globe in Australia! But why is this?
All of the seasonal changes are because the earth is tilted slightly, at about a 23.5 degree angle. When the earth leans toward the sun, the season of summer will occur and when the earth leans away from the sun winter will occur. Spring and fall (autumn) are in between.
The north and south poles never point exactly at the sun. When the northern hemisphere leans toward the sun, we have summer and the daylight lasts longer. When the northern hemisphere leans away from the sun, we have the season of winter and daylight doesn't last as long.
So seasons have to do with the fact that the earth is tilted, and the part of the earth leaning towards the sun determines what season it is in your part of the world. The closer you live to the equator, the warmer your climate will be and the less change of season you will notice.