Are there seasons on the equator

These places also have a constant twelve hours of day and night throughout the year, while north or south of the equator day length increasingly varies with the seasons. In its seasonal movement through the sky, the Sun itself passes directly over the equator only twice each year, on the March and September equinoxes. It is mistakenly believed that the weather on the equator stays the same. While tropical areas along the equator can experience wet and dry seasons, other regions may well be wet for much of the year.

In our own time, we continue the winter solstice tradition with various holiday celebrations around that December date. Halfway between the solstices, on about March 21 and September 21, the Sun is on the celestial equator. Every place on Earth then receives roughly 12 hours of sunshine and 12 hours of night. The points where the Sun crosses the celestial equator are called the vernal spring and autumnal fall equinoxes.

The seasonal effects are different at different latitudes on Earth. Near the equator, for instance, all seasons are much the same. Every day of the year, the Sun is up half the time, so there are approximately 12 hours of sunshine and 12 hours of night.

Local residents define the seasons by the amount of rain wet season and dry season rather than by the amount of sunlight. As we travel north or south, the seasons become more pronounced, until we reach extreme cases in the Arctic and Antarctic.

At the North Pole, all celestial objects that are north of the celestial equator are always above the horizon and, as Earth turns, circle around parallel to it. The Sun is north of the celestial equator from about March 21 to September 21, so at the North Pole, the Sun rises when it reaches the vernal equinox and sets when it reaches the autumnal equinox. Each year there are 6 months of sunshine at each pole, followed by 6 months of darkness.

What is the altitude of the Sun at noon on December 21, as seen from a place on the Tropic of Cancer? In our discussions so far, we have been describing the rising and setting of the Sun and stars as they would appear if Earth had little or no atmosphere.

Because of this atmospheric refraction and the fact that the Sun is not a point of light but a disk , the Sun appears to rise earlier and to set later than it would if no atmosphere were present. In addition, the atmosphere scatters light and provides some twilight illumination even when the Sun is below the horizon. These atmospheric effects require small corrections in many of our statements about the seasons.

At the equinoxes, for example, the Sun appears to be above the horizon for a few minutes longer than 12 hours, and below the horizon for fewer than 12 hours. You probably know that the summer solstice June 21 is not the warmest day of the year, even if it is the longest. The hottest months in the Northern Hemisphere are July and August.

And the coldest times of winter are a month or more after the winter solstice. The familiar cycle of the seasons results from the At the summer solstice, the Sun is higher in the sky and its rays strike Earth more directly.

The Sun is in the sky for more than half of the day and can heat Earth longer. At the winter solstice, the Sun is low in the sky and its rays come in at more of an angle; in addition, it is up for fewer than 12 hours, so those rays have less time to heat.

At the vernal and autumnal equinoxes, the Sun is on the celestial equator and we get about 12 hours of day and night. The seasons are different at different latitudes. Skip to main content. Earth, Moon, and Sky. Search for:. Example 1: Seasonal Variations As you can see in Figure 4, the Tropic of Cancer is the latitude for which the Sun is directly overhead on the summer solstice.

Show Answer If Earth were tilted less, the seasons would be less extreme. If no button appears, you cannot download or save the media. Text on this page is printable and can be used according to our Terms of Service. Any interactives on this page can only be played while you are visiting our website. You cannot download interactives. Climate describes the average weather conditions of a particular place over a 30 year period. All places on earth have their own climates. Different from weather events, which are short-term and temporary phenomenon, climates are usually steady and predictable, and shape how organisms and human civilizations evolve and adapt in any given region.

However, climates are not always permanent, and can change drastically due to human activity. Explore the world's climates and how they affect local regions and the planet with this curated collection of resources. The northern hemisphere experiences summer during the months of June, July, and August because it is tilted toward the sun and receives the most direct sunlight. Inversely, summer for the southern hemisphere takes place during the months of December, January, and February because that is when it receives the most direct sunlight.

Did you know that the earth is approximately 3. Learn more about the relationship between the earth and the sun with these resources. Encyclopedic entry. A great circle is the largest possible circle that can be drawn around a sphere. All spheres have great circles. Join our community of educators and receive the latest information on National Geographic's resources for you and your students. Skip to content. Twitter Facebook Pinterest Google Classroom. Encyclopedic Entry Vocabulary.

Kenya is one of 13 nations that straddle the Equator. Photograph by W. Robert Moore. Arctic Circle. Also called an astronomical object. There are two equinoxes a year. Northern Hemisphere. North Pole. Satellites can be natural, like moons, or artificial. Southern Hemisphere. South Pole. Tropic of Cancer. Media Credits The audio, illustrations, photos, and videos are credited beneath the media asset, except for promotional images, which generally link to another page that contains the media credit.

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