How could this be true about the sun?

Question

I read this on the internet.

The Earth is closest to the Sun (this is called perihelion) around January 2 each year (91.4 million miles = 147.1 million km); it is farthest away from the Sun (this is called aphelion) around July 2 each year (94.8 million miles = 152.6 million km).

so how come it's freezing cold on jan and superhot on july?

Answer 1

Thanks for your question. It is true that Earth is closer to the sun than average during Northern Hemisphere winter and farther from the sun than average during Northern Hemisphere summer. The specific proximal (close) and distal (far) points along Earth's orbit around the sun are called "perihelion"and "aphelion," respectively, and will occur roughly on January 4 and July 4 of this year (these dates progressively change over time as a consequence of the planet's orbital path constantly changing shape.) The distances to the sun at perihelion and aphelion are approximately 147.5 million kilometers and 152.6 million kilometers, respectively. This change in distance can be explained by the ellipsoidal (non-circular or oval) shape of Earth's orbital path around the sun. Instead of the sun occupying a singular, unique center of that path, it occupies one of two points called "foci" which can be found slightly and equally offset to either side of what would be considered the true center of Earth's orbital path. Imagine a horizontally oriented oval-shaped face with two eyes at the center and one of those eyes winking at you, and you
will have a reasonably accurate depiction of what the Earth-Sun orbital system looks
like when viewed from above or below the orbital plane.

Although it may seem that Earth's relative distance to the sun would be a prominent factor in determining seasonal changes in temperature, it pales in comparison to the prominence of the planet's axial tilt with respect to controlling temperature, or more accurately, distribution of solar energy.
It is the axial tilt (presently 23.45 degrees), in fact, which determines seasonality. During Northern Hemisphere summers, the north pole is oriented in such a way as to be pointing in the general direction of (not directly at) the sun; during Northern Hemisphere winters, the north pole is pointing away from the sun. I should clarify this by saying that the north pole points in essentially the same direction throughout the year
(i.e. Polaris, the North Star), regardless of where it is in its orbital path.

Incidentally, it is for just this reason that the polar regions are
immersed in full to partial darkness during certain parts of the year (i.e. the north pole during northern winters.) When a region of the surface of Earth is more straightly facing the sun (like northern latitudes do during northern summers), the amount of sunlight falling on that surface is greater than when that surface is more obliquely facing the sun (like northern latitudes do during northern winters.) This seasonal change in the amount of incident solar radiation per unit area on the surface of Earth is ultimately what determines the seasonal changes in
temperature. Any introductory astronomy text will have illustrations that depict what I have described here, if the mental visualization is difficult (which it certainly can be. Remember that it is only called "winter months" (December-March) - in the
Northern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, these months are actually "summer months". This particular datum should suggest to you that it is not the relative closeness to the Sun that controls winter/summer, but rather the tilt of the Earth's axis away or towards the Sun and the relative exposures to the Sun of each hemisphere.

The other way to think about this (although requiring a bit more Math) is to try to calculate how much more energy does the Earth get during perihelion and aphelion. You could, for example try to factor in how many more degrees of sunlight would be captured by the Earth as it gets closer. (assuming that there is not much loss in sunlight energy over the different distances) :o) I hope this explanation helps.

Answer 2

seasons are due to the tilt of the earth and the ammount of time you spend facing the sun. in the winter, the southern hemisphere is actually having its summer. the distance from the sun doesnt reely matter because the extra 2 million miles you move away in the summer dont reely dilute the energy that the sun gives off enough for it to make the average temperature any colder. the "safe zone" of the solar system, or the part of the solar system that gets enough solar energy to support life but not so much that it burns all of the life off, extends from venis to mars. with the right conditions, life could exist anywhere on the 3 of these planets. the only planet that actually has life on it is earth.

Answer 3

It's "freezing cold" in January in the northern hemisphere and "superhot" in the southern. Completely opposite in July. It has to do with the tilt of the earth's axis. In January, the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and receives less direct sunlight, thus it's colder. In July, it is tilted more towards the sun and receives increased direct sunlight and is thus hotter.

Answer 4

It's only freezing cold in January in the northern hemisphere. It's the middle of summer in the southern hemisphere. The temperature of the Earth has more to do with the tilt on the axis than it does with the distance from the sun

Answer 5

Its only that way in the northern hemisphere...because of the earths tilt...the suns rays have further to travel through the atmosphere, and reduced time for the heat to be absorbed in the winter...thus how cold it is....in the summer, the earths tilt focuses the suns rays more directly on the earths surface, thus less atmosphere to travel through, and more time for the absorption of heat....In the Southern hemisphere Jan 2 in the height of Summer...in fact right now, Australia, in enduring a very hot summer.

Answer 6

we have seasons due to the tilt of the earths' axis -
not the slight differences in or distance from the sun
calculate the percentage of change between the perihelion
and aphelion - you will see it is negligable

Answer 7

The Earths tilted axis causes the sun to strike us at different angles.

Answer 8

There is the rest of the world. All you know is not all there is.

Just because it's winter where you are, doesn't mean that it's
winter everywhere. Or even that winter exists at all. Along the
equator, winter never happens. Ever.

Answer 9

nah, the earth isn't tilted, it looks straight to me???
but there are more clouds in the winter, keeps the sunshine away!
LOL, j/k

Answer 10

Yeah, what they said.