what is the scientific reason for winter being cold, and summer hot, surely if its sunny in say.. november then it should be warm? (daughter asked me and all my science lessons went out the window!!)
2006-11-06 22:15:23 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Because the earth's axis is tilted.
It is all about the tilt of the Earth's axis. Many people believe that the temperature changes because the Earth is closer to the sun in summer and farther from the sun in winter. In fact, the Earth is farthest from the sun in July and is closest to the sun in January! The Earth's movement around the sun causes the seasons, but it does not affect the temperatures during the seasons.
During the summer, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a steep angle. The light does not spread out as much, thus increasing the amount of energy hitting any given spot. Also, the long daylight hours allow the Earth plenty of time to reach warm temperatures.
During the winter, the sun's rays hit the Earth at a shallow angle. These rays are more spread out, which minimizes the amount of energy that hits any given spot. Also, the long nights and short days prevent the Earth from warming up. Thus, we have winter!
2006-11-06 22:18:14 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Simplistically, it's down to the length of day.
The longer days in summer warm up the earth more than the shorter days in winter. It doesn't really matter if you see it as being sunny or not, the fact that your part of the world is exposed to the sun longer means that the air is warmed for longer.
This also has a knock on effect with air pressure and air currents, where warmer air is typically of higher pressure and is generally calmer. This explains why the weather is generally better in the summer than winter.
2006-11-07 06:21:43 · answer #2 · answered by k² 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The earth spins on an axis which tilted. In the summer time, the parts closest to the sun is warm. When the earth is the opposite part of its orbit the same part is tilted away from the sun, hence winter time. What is kinda difficult to grasp is the relationship between the earth spinning (night and day) and the orbit (year), and how climate is affected. Also, we have various weather systems in action, like the gulf stream in the Atlantic, which have seasonal impacts on our climate.
2006-11-07 06:33:15 · answer #3 · answered by JJ London 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
it is all about the tilt of the earth. We are actually closer to the sun in the winter, but we are tilted away from the sun, meaning we don't get much of the sun's energy to heat us up
2006-11-07 15:17:54 · answer #4 · answered by Aaron 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Because the planet tilts as it spins. During our winter, the north pole is tilted away from the sun, that's why we get less hours of daylight.
2006-11-07 06:19:00 · answer #5 · answered by le_coupe 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
becouse the earth is ferther from the sun or we are at a differeant angle to it when it is winter one side of the world it is summer the other side. I hope thar helps.
2006-11-07 06:17:45 · answer #6 · answered by Sam's 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun is further away in winter.
2006-11-07 06:17:29 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
the sun is further away?
2006-11-07 06:16:33 · answer #8 · answered by Thanks! 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋