There’s something about the change of seasons that just feels right. The leaves start to turn a different color, the air gets a little bit cooler, and pumpkin spice everything starts popping up everywhere. But why do we have seasons in the first place? And why do they change every year? Learn more about why we have seasons and how they’re changing in this post.
Why Do We Have Seasons?
There are a variety of explanations for why we have seasons, but the most widely accepted one is based on the Earth’s tilt on its axis. As the Earth orbits the sun, its axis remains tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees.
This tilt causes the Earth’s Northern and Southern Hemispheres to experience different amounts of sunlight throughout the year. The tilt also affects the amount of daylight each hemisphere receives. For example, during the winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is tilted away from the sun.
This keeps the sun low in the sky, so there are fewer hours of daylight. In contrast, during the summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the Earth is tilted towards the sun. This raises the sun higher in the sky, resulting in more hours of daylight. The changing amount of sunlight and daylight causes the seasons.
Why Is The Earth Tilt Important?
First, the tilt of the Earth’s axis affects the amount of sunlight each hemisphere receives. This results in different seasons in different parts of the world. Second, the tilt of the Earth also affects atmospheric circulation patterns, which can impact weather patterns.
Third, the Earth’s tilt helps to stabilize its climate by moderating the temperature extremes that occur at the poles. Finally, the Earth’s tilt is thought to be important for life itself, as it is believed to have played a role in the formation of the oceans and continents.
Without the Earth’s tilt, our planet would be a very different place.
Why Does the Earth Spin at a Tilt Instead Of Straight?
The prevailing scientific theory is that the Earth’s spin is the result of a colossal collision with a Mars-sized object that occurred early in the solar system’s history. The object then split apart and went on to form our moon. This impact caused the Earth’s molten mantle to slosh around and send our planet spinning on its axis.
Over time, the Earth’s rotation gradually slowed down due to the gravitational drag of the Moon. However, the tilt of the Earth’s axis has remained relatively constant over billions of years. Scientists believe that this tilt is what gives rise to our seasons, as it results in different parts of the planet receiving more or less sunlight at different times of the year.
Without this tilt, the Earth would be a much less hospitable place for life to take root and flourish.