Why do we have seasons?

Why Do the Seasons Change on Earth?

Two things cause the seasons to change. First, the Earth moves around the Sun. Second, the Earth has a tilted axis of rotation.

The Earth spins around an axis. This imaginary line extends from the South Pole to the North Pole. But the Earth’s axis is not vertical. It’s actually tilted at an angle of 23.5°. The planet is always tilted in the same direction as it orbits the Sun.

Did you know?

The tilt of Earth’s axis hasn’t always been 23.5°. Every 40 000 years, it cycles between 22° and 24.5°.

What does the Earth’s tilted axis have to do with seasons? It means that different parts of the planet are tilted toward the Sun at different times of the year. It’s also why the seasons are different in different parts of the world. 

Not all parts of the Earth have four distinct seasons. But they all experience seasonal variation. Closer to the North Pole and the South Pole, daylight and temperatures change with the seasons. Days are longer and temperatures are colder in summer than in winter. Near the Equator, days are always about 12 hours long. But these areas usually have a wet season and a dry season.

Misconception Alert

People often think that the Earth is closer to the Sun during the summer. And it’s farther away during the winter. This is not correct. In fact, the Earth is closest to the Sun in January! The distance between the Earth and the Sun does not affect the seasons. Seasons change because of the tilt of the Earth and the planet’s movement around the Sun.

Did you know?

It takes about 365.25 days for the Earth to orbit the Sun. We have leap years to make up for the extra ¼ day!

How Are Seasons Different in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres?

Seasons happen at different times in different parts of the world. The tilt of the Earth doesn’t change as it rotates around the Sun. But the part of the planet that gets the most direct sunlight does change.

The Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun from September to March. That means the northern half of the planet doesn’t get as much light and heat from the Sun. This causes autumn and winter. During the same months, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. That means the southern half of the planet gets spring and summer.

From March to September, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. So that’s when the northern half of the Earth experiences spring and summer. During the same months, the Southern Hemisphere experiences autumn and winter.
Other planets also have seasons. But the length and intensity of each season varies from planet to planet. 

• On Earth, seasons last between 90 and 93 days. 
• On Venus, seasons last between 55 and 58 days. 
• On Mars, seasons change about once every six months. Summer lasts 199 days and winter lasts 146 days. 
• On Saturn, seasons last about seven years. 
• And if you lived on Neptune, you would have to wait more than 40 years for the seasons to change!