Seasons are very important to the Earth and for people that live on the Earth. When the climate changes, people in different locations experience different seasons. Different seasons happen because of how the Earth orbits and rotates around the Sun.
What Causes Seasons?
When the Earth orbits, it causes the sun to get closer in the summer and it causes the sun to get further away in the winter. When this happens, the seasons change.
The Northern and the Southern Hemispheres of the Earth have the opposite seasons at the same time because they are located on opposite ends of each other. When the Earth tilts on its axis and is close to the sun, the rays from the sun hit the Earth and cause it to be hotter. This is where summer comes from. When the Earth tilts on its axis and is further away from the sun, it causes the area to be colder and this is what causes winter.
Why is it Called Seasons?
A season happens when there is a change in the temperature that happens year after year.
The Rotation of the Earth
The axis is a line that is imaginary, and it is where the Earth spins. When the Earth spins, it causes night and day to happen and this line is drawn from the North Pole to the South Pole.
Rotation is when the Earth spins on the axis and this causes there to be night and day. When there is one complete rotation, we have one full day or 24 hours.
When the Earth moves around the sun, it takes one full year for it to make a revolution. This revolution happens when the Earth completely circles the sun and goes back to where it started.
When the Earth moves around the sun, it follows a certain path and this path is called an orbit.
When the Earth Tilts
When the Earth tilts, it tilts on its axis. This causes there to be different changes in the seasons. When the Earth moves around the sun, the axis stays pointing in the same direction and so part of the year, the North will get more sun and during other parts of the year the South will get more sun.
Seasons
When the Northern part of the Earth is facing the sun, the Southern part is not. Eventually this changes. When the Southern part is not facing the sun, the sun’s rays only hit this part of the Earth a little compared to the other side that is getting full rays from the sun.
There are four different seasons: Fall, summer, winter and spring. During the winter months, the sun has less energy and the sun does not hit the ground as much as it does in the summer.
Seasons have a huge impact on what happens during that season. In the spring, the animals are born, and the plants begin to grow.
When it is summer, the weather is hot, and plants and animals need more water. Crops are usually grown in the summer and they are planted in the spring.
When it gets fall, the leaves begin to change colors and the animals begin to prepare for the upcoming winter.
During the winter, some animals migrate and hibernate to stay safe.
More Facts About Seasons:
- Seasons happen because the Earth’s relationship with the sun at that time.
- When it is wintertime in Europe, it will be summertime in Australia.
- The longest day in the Northern Hemisphere is June 21stand the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere is December 21st.
- The longest day in the Southern Hemisphere is December 21stand the longest night in the Southern Hemisphere is June 21st.
What Did You Learn?
- How many seasons are there?
There are four different seasons; fall, winter, spring and summer. - How do seasons happen?
Seasons happen depending on where the Earth is hitting the sun. When one part of the Earth is facing the sun, it is having summer, and this means the other side is not facing the sun and is having winter. - How long does it take for the Earth to complete one rotation?
One rotation takes 24 hours. - How long does it take for the Earth to complete one revolution?
It takes the Earth 365 days to complete one revolution around the sun. - What season do the leaves change colors?
Leaves begin to change colors in the fall. - What season is the coldest?
Winter is the coldest season. - What season is the hottest?
Summer is the hottest season. - When do farmers plant crops?
Most farmers plant crops in the Spring and harvest them in the summer.
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Earth Science