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2006-11-05 01:28:48 · 4 answers · asked by R. 1 in Science & Mathematics Weather

4 answers

Tilt of the Earth on it's axis is the primary factor. The location of the Earth in it's orbit around the sun also plays a role since the start/end date of each season is defined by the relative position of the Earth as it revolves around the sun. And, I would guess, the final factor is where your location is on the Earth (i.e. either northern or southern hemisphere).

2006-11-05 02:03:23 · answer #1 · answered by MarcH 2 · 0 0

I hope your question didn't come out of a textbook...there are certainly more than three factors causing seasons.

The magnitude and spectrum of the sun make up one factor. These determine the energy Earth receives and solar energy is a major determinant of a season.

The distance of the sun from Earth is another factor, for much the same reason as above.

The shape of the Earth's orbit, again this determines the energy received from the Sun.

Tilt of the Earth; again the energy received; this is a major factor in determining average temperatures, a major characteristic of seasons.

Speed of the Earth's rotation; determines how much energy is received when facing the Sun and serves to set up the west-to-east flow of wind, which carries the moisture and such that determine the rainfall, snow, storms, etc. that characterize the seasons.

Speed of the Earth's revolution around the Sun; determines how long the northern or southern hemispheres of Earth point towards the Sun and, thus, determines how long the seasons last.

Makeup and density of the Earth's atmosphere; determines how much solar energy is retained and radiated off.

Presence of our Moon, which helps keep the tilt of the Earth stable and, therefore, helps keep our seasons repeatable and within life sustaining limits.

I'm sure there are more...definitely more than three. But most have a common theme; they affect how much energy we get from the Sun and how effective Earth is at retaining or radiating it.

PS: Some answers claim tilt of the Earth is the only determinent for seasons. That is plainly false. Want proof...just drastically alter any one of the factors listed above and, in your mind, imagine what would happen to the seasons as we know them now.

For example, just move Earth in to, say, 46 million miles from the Sun, rather than 93 million miles. All other things equal, energy received from the Sun would quadruple when the distance is cut in half...I think even those who say only tilt has a bearing on seasons would admit our seasons would be drastically changed from what we know them now.

The point is this, although tilt is important in determining our seasons, our seasons would not be what they are today without the other factors being what they are today. We have to be at or about 93 million miles, we have to be in a nearly circular orbit, we have to have a moon, and so on...otherwise, our seasons would be totally different.

2006-11-05 13:40:21 · answer #2 · answered by oldprof 7 · 0 0

I don't know why people think the distance from the sun causes seasons. In australia, the earth is closer to the sun in summer, and in the northern hemisphere, the earth is closer to the sun in the winter. There is only ONE main factor that determines season. The tilt of the earth. If the earth was not tilted, we would not have any seasons. In the summer, your part of the world is tilted toward the sun. Winter is the opposite.

2006-11-05 20:57:39 · answer #3 · answered by Aaron 3 · 0 1

I thought that the position of the earth on it's axis was the determining factor.

2006-11-05 09:33:48 · answer #4 · answered by Mr. Right 4 · 0 1

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