Seasons
7th Grade Informational Reading Texts
Some people think that Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer and farther away from the Sun in the winter. But that's not true! Why can't that be true? Because when it's summer in one hemisphere, it's winter in the other. So what does cause the seasons? The seasons are caused by the 23.5° tilt of Earth's axis. One hemisphere points more directly toward the Sun than the other hemisphere. As Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt of Earth's axis stays lined up with the North Star.
Solstice refers to the position of the Sun when it is closest to one of the poles. At equinox, the Sun is directly over the Equator.
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun. The Sun's rays strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly. The region gets a lot of sunlight. Summer solstice is June 21 or 22. At that time, the Sun's rays hit directly at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N). This is the farthest north that the Sun will be directly overhead. Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere happens on December 21 or 22. The North Pole of Earth's axis points away from the Sun. Light from the Sun is spread out over a larger area. With fewer daylight hours in winter, there is also less time for the Sun to warm the area. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
During summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sun's rays directly strike the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S). Sunlight is spread across a large area near the South Pole. No sunlight reaches the North Pole.
equinox comes halfway between the two solstices. At equinoxes, the Sun's rays shine most directly at the Equatora. The daylight and nighttime hours are exactly equal on an equinox. The autumnal, or fall, equinox happens on September 22 or 23. The vernal, or spring, equinox happens March 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere.
Solstice refers to the position of the Sun when it is closest to one of the poles. At equinox, the Sun is directly over the Equator.
During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted toward the Sun. The Sun's rays strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly. The region gets a lot of sunlight. Summer solstice is June 21 or 22. At that time, the Sun's rays hit directly at the Tropic of Cancer (23.5°N). This is the farthest north that the Sun will be directly overhead. Summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere is winter solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
Winter solstice for the Northern Hemisphere happens on December 21 or 22. The North Pole of Earth's axis points away from the Sun. Light from the Sun is spread out over a larger area. With fewer daylight hours in winter, there is also less time for the Sun to warm the area. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere.
During summer in the Southern Hemisphere, the Sun's rays directly strike the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5°S). Sunlight is spread across a large area near the South Pole. No sunlight reaches the North Pole.
equinox comes halfway between the two solstices. At equinoxes, the Sun's rays shine most directly at the Equatora. The daylight and nighttime hours are exactly equal on an equinox. The autumnal, or fall, equinox happens on September 22 or 23. The vernal, or spring, equinox happens March 21 or 22 in the Northern Hemisphere.