Explain why Earth experiences different seasons throughout the year. Which parts of Earth experience the greatest seasonal variability, and which parts experience the least? Explain why

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Seasonality is caused by the tilt, or obliquity, of the Earth. The hemisphere that faces the Sun receives much more solar energy than does the other hemisphere. It is this factor that determines the seasons. For six months of each year, the Northern part of the Northern Hemisphere leans towards the Sun and the Southern part of the Southern Hemisphere leans away, leading to Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. For the other six months of the year, the opposite is true. The tropics are not greatly affected by this, because the tilt of the Earth is not extreme enough to significantly reduce incoming solar radiation near the equator. There is also a difference between land and ocean. Land surfaces at all latitudes tend to experience greater seasonal variation than do ocean surfaces. Continental interiors at high latitudes, therefore, have the greatest seasonality.