Why do the seasons change?

Arabia Weather - When we wake up on a bright, beautiful June morning, and enjoy the warm sunshine and long days, we may not think much about the reasons behind this beauty surrounding us, but what will happen when June turns into December , and winter appears on one of the days of June? With its cold weather and short days? Have you ever thought what would happen then? Why do the seasons change?

Let us dive together into the world of the seasons, and understand what forces and factors make nature play the music of the four seasons from spring to summer, and from fall to winter. Let us delve deeper into these amazing aspects of planet Earth, and explore why the seasons change between the rapid rotation of its world, dazzling astronomical events, and environmental influences. the mission.

Why does the Earth have four seasons?

To understand the reasons for seasonal change and the appearance of the four seasons, we must take a preliminary look at the cosmic and physical factors that control this phenomenon. The secret begins with understanding the rotation of planet Earth and its orbit around the sun, as this rotation occurs through two main cycles that give great diversity to weather conditions and seasonal patterns on the surface of the planet. .

• First, the Earth rotates around its axis regularly during one day , and this supposed rotation occurs completely every 24 hours , which causes the phenomenon of day and night.
• As for the second rotation, which is the rotation of the Earth around the sun , that is, approximately once every 365 days , this annual journey around the sun has a greater impact on the distribution of the sun and its rays on the Earth, and thus causes changes in temperatures and the pattern of the seasons.

The occurrence of the four seasons

The four seasons are those distinct periods of the year, which are characterized by special climatic conditions, and recur periodically annually, and include spring, summer, fall, and winter.

Whereas in the northern hemisphere of the world , the four seasons begin according to the seasonal solstice. Winter usually begins on December 21 or 22 with the winter solstice , and is characterized by short days and long nights where the night is longer than the day. In contrast, summer begins on June 20 or 21 with Summer solstice , when daylight extends for long hours, and the day is longer than the night.

As for spring and autumn, each of them begins with the equinox; The vernal equinox begins on March 20 or 21 , and is characterized by the balance of day and night, where the time period of day and night is equal. As for autumn, the autumn equinox begins on September 22 or 23 , with day and night continuing to be balanced.

It should be noted that the seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere, where winter in the southern part of the world is from June to December, and summer extends from December to June.

Reasons for the occurrence of the four seasons

The four seasons change throughout the year as a result of the angle at which the Earth tilts and its rotation around the sun. These differences in the seasons occur based on the amount of solar light that reaches the Earth as it rotates around the sun. The angle at which the Earth tilts determines the seasons of the year and affects temperatures. And weather patterns.

The main reason behind the occurrence of the four seasons is the tilt of the Earth on its axis during its rotation around the sun. The Earth rotates counterclockwise on its axis at an angle of about 23.4 degrees. This tilt causes a change in the angle and amount of solar light that reaches various areas of the Earth during its rotation.

When the Earth's hemisphere tilts toward the sun , it becomes more exposed to sunlight, and the temperature increases, causing many regions to transition into summer.

In contrast, when the hemisphere is tilted away from the sun , the amount of solar light decreases, and temperatures fall, indicating the beginning of winter. This change in angle and tilt affects the distribution of day, night, and temperatures throughout the year.

These seasonal changes affect vegetation and growth in nature. In winter, days are short and plant growth is limited. While in spring, plants bloom and adorn trees with leaves and flowers and in summer, days become hot and bright, which enhances plant growth. In the fall, trees begin to lose their leaves, and temperatures drop as winter approaches.

These changes in nature reflect the coming of the seasons of the year, and form the basis for naming certain seasons, such as the olive harvest season and others.

Spring and autumn equinox

Regarding the equinox , it means that day and night are equal in both hemispheres. This occurs when sunlight is completely perpendicular to the equator during the Earth’s rotation around the sun , beginning spring in the northern hemisphere , which is on March 21, and the autumnal equinox in the southern hemisphere is on March 23. September At these moments, both the northern and southern hemispheres are exposed to equal amounts of solar light, resulting in equal day and night across the globe.

Summer and winter solstice

The summer solstice occurs when the sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Cancer, where the northern part of the Earth is more exposed to the sun than the southern part, so that summer begins and the days become longer and shorter in the southern part of the Earth.

As for the winter solstice , which occurs on December 21, the sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn, and this results in a change in the solar distribution on the surface of the Earth. As a result, the story turns so that the southern part is exposed to the largest percentage of sunlight, unlike the northern part, where the winter season begins.

During the summer solstice , the North Pole is characterized by what is known as the polar day, as the sun does not set during this period. Because of the tilt of the Earth’s axis towards the sun, this polar day extends for six full months, and similarly in the Southern Hemisphere, in the remaining six months of the year, the South Pole experiences the same conditions, as the sun does not set on it during the remaining six months of the year, so it enjoys a full day while the sun is perpendicular to the Tropic of Capricorn. On the contrary, the Arctic Circle is not exposed to the sun throughout this period, so it has a complete night during the winter solstice.

These changes in the tilt of the Earth's axis and its position during its rotation around the sun lead to the occurrence of the four seasons periodically and repeatedly.

The four seasons are a wonderful reminder of the uniqueness of planet Earth. From refreshing spring to bright summer, from beautiful autumn to white winter, the seasons make life on Earth exciting and diverse, always giving us something to look forward to and enjoy.

Also know:

When does the fall semester 2023 start? What is the autumn equinox and what is its relationship to the Harvester Moon?

What is the winter solstice? How does it happen?

Sources:

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