|
A YEAR ON EARTH A year on Earth can be split into four quarters. Each of these quarters is known as a season, and each season has its own characteristics. These season are caused by the tilt of the planet and are more noticeable towards the North and South poles than at the middle of the planet near to its equator. The picture below shows how Earth's tilt, its orbit around the Sun and its daily rotation on its axis causes the seasons.
If Earth wasn't tilted, the weather on each part of the planet would remain the same all the year through. But, it is tilted so the weather does change depending on what time of year it is. Below is a brief summary of what a typical season is like.
|
SPRING
(from 21st March in Northern Hemisphere, and 23rd September in
Southern Hemisphere):
The temperature begins to increase. As it does, days start to get
longer. Animals come out of hibernation and usually give birth to
their babies at this time of year. Leaves begin to grow on trees
and flowers begin to flower. An early sign of Spring approaching
is the growth of daffodils. Rain is more likely in Spring as the
temperature is slightly higher.
SUMMER (from 21st June in Northern Hemisphere, and 21st
December in Southern Hemisphere):
Trees are full of leaves, and plants and flowers are in full
bloom. Temperature at its maximum temperature of the year, when
Earth is closer to the Sun than it is during the rest of the year. Rain is
less common than in other seasons, although, when it does rain,
it rains a lot.
AUTUMN
(from 23rd September in Northern Hemisphere, and 21st March in
Southern Hemisphere):
The temperature drops and leaves turn red, orange and yellow
colours before dropping off trees towards the middle of Autumn.
Flowers begin to die. Animals begin going into hibernation or, if
they can fly, hibernate to warmer countries. Less sun and more
rain. Days begin to get shorter.
WINTER
(from 21st December in Northern Hemisphere, and 21st June in
Northern Hemisphere):
Water droplets are more like to fall as snow instead of rain.
Temperature drops. Frost is likely to form in the mornings. Trees
have no leaves at all and most wild animals are asleep for the
season. The start of winter is usually also the shortest day of
the year. Water freezes to become ice.
| EARTH MAIN MENU | WELCOME TO EARTH | HOW DID EARTH FORM? | |
| A YEAR ON EARTH | VISITORS FROM SPACE | TEN FACTS ABOUT EARTH |
- Main Menu - Bobsdog's
Space Quiz - E-mail Bob - Sign and View Bob's Guestbook - Lost in Space? -
- The Sun - Mercury - Venus - Earth - The Moon - Mars - Jupiter - Saturn - Uranus - Neptune - Pluto -
- The Solar
System - Comets - Asteroids - Galaxies - Stars - Space Exploration -
