what variations in earths orbit affect climate?

Answer 1

The closest Earth gets to the sun in its orbit is 91,400,000 miles. The farthest is 94,500,000 miles. Since light from the sun varies as the distance squared, you can calculate the difference in energy from the closest to farthest distances. If we assume that the amount of radiation is "1" at the closest distance, then it drops to about .935 at the farthest disance, a reduction of about 6.5% in incident energy. And, of course, you have the Earth's tilt which affects local seasons.

Answer 2

There are three primary factors in the Earth's orbit that effect the climate. The first factor is the difference in proportion of land to water between the northern and southern hemispheres on the Earth. If these two were the same then the difference would not exist. However, the Northern Hemisphere has a higher land to water ratio than the Southern Hemisphere.

The second factor is that the Earth's orbit is not round but elliptical which puts the Earth closest to the sun during part of its orbit and farthest away six months later.The third factor is the precession in the polar axis.

Currently, the Earth is closest to the Sun when it is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere and Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. The opposite is true six months later. The Earth is farthest from the Sun when it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere and Winter in the Southern.

The important point is that when the Earth is closest to the Sun it is Summer in the Southern Hemisphere. Therefore at the point when the energy from the Sun is at a maximum it shines on the Southern Hemisphere which has a higher water ratio. This is important because land refects away heat at night whereas water stores it. Therefore, when the energy from the Sun is at a minimum it is being reflected away but when it is at a maximum it is being stored.

Obviously, the single biggest effect is the tilt of the Earth's axis which during the course of the year causes the seasonal variation, Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. However, this axis precesses or has a wobble. This wobble takes 22,000 years to make a full circle. The reason this factor is important is because 11,000 years from now the orbit and axis tilt will have switched. This will mean that when it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere the Sun's energy will be at a maximum. This will mean that the Earth will be saving energy when it is at a minimum and reflecting when it is at a maximum. This will cause the Earth to go into an Ice Age.

The analogy would be like saving money when you have a lot and spending more freely when you have very little. Over time you will of course have more money because of what you save. If this were reversed and you only saved money when you had very little and spent freely when you had a lot then you would have less money. This very slow change in the Earth's axis has a very profound effect over time.

Answer 3

There is a small amount that it affects us`but is like having a stove on the far side of the Jimnasium. and u walking 5 ft. toward it. at 93,000,000 mi.from the sun , if u measure the actual energy per sq.meter that falls on the earth I doubt u will be able to see the difference. In communications u might listen to the radio and say I think that is better,but the Eng. will ask for your measurements.your eye or ear are not calibrated instruments.