How does Earth's tilted axis cause its seasons?

Answer 1

By itself, it doesn't cause this. It is in combination with the orbit around the sun.

In summer, the nearest pole is tilted towards the sun, and the opposite pole is tilted the other way. The pole tilted to the sun will have 24 hrs a day sunlight, which warms the surface, which in turn warms the air. The other pole has 24 hrs night, thus no warming of the surface, thus no warming of the air.

In addition, the amount of sunlight per amount of surface is larger. This is because the sun is coming in at a lesser angle. Try shining a torch straight to the floor, and in an angle, and you'll easily spot the difference. The same amount of light has to shine on a larger surface if the angle is not perpendicular.

So, more hours of light, and more energy per hour. That is summer.

In fall and spring, neither pole is receiving more light than the other. The earth's half that had summer will cool down (fall), the half that had winter will warm up (spring).


Away from the poles, there's no 24 hrs daylight however the angle at which the sun's rays touch the surface of the earth is perpendicular. The effect of more energy hitting the earth is larger than the effect of a couple of hours more daylight. The tropics are warmer than the poles due to this.

Answer 2

When sun rays are more vertical towards the surface, such place will be warmer. When the inclination of the rays with respect to the ground is greater, the rays cross a greater portion of the atmosphere before striking the ground. Thus a greater part of their energy is absorbed by the atmosphere and less reaches the ground.
Because of Earth axis inclination, when the rays strike more vertical in the north hemisphere it will be summer there, and the opposite will be happening in the south hemisphere.
There is much less variation as we approach the Equator. Basically there are no seasons between the tropics.

The orbit of the Earth is almost circular. The variation of the distance to the Sun has no effect on the seasons. It is only the inclination of the sun rays with respect to the surface...

Answer 3

The distance between the Northern and Southern hemispheres and the sun changes with the seasons, because of the axis tilt, also the angle at which the energy from the sun strikes the earth.

Answer 4

The Earth's axis is tilted, so it wobbles during its orbit, like a top. When the northern hemisphere tilts closer to the sun, it gets more sunlight, which is Summer. When the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, it gets less sunlight and you have Winter. Also, during northern hemisphere's Winter it's southern hemisphere's Summer and vica versa. Fall and Spring are just the in-between stages.

Answer 5

It's related to the distance of the sun's warmth on the surface of the earth. Like now, Alaska is tilted away from the sun, making it dark and cold.

Answer 6

The angle at wich the Sun rays strike the earth is the culprit,we are closer to the Sun in winter than in summer.

Answer 7

A picture is worth a thousand words. See this website for diagrams explaining Earth's tilt and how it causes changes in seasons ==>
http://www.astronomynotes.com/nakedeye/s10.htm

Answer 8

the rays of the sun hit different areas at different angles, causing changes in temperature as the earth gets closer or further from the sun in its orbit.

go to howstuffworks.com

and you can get a very detailed explanation

Answer 9

The sunlight must travel a greater distance through the atmosphere in winter!

Answer 10

by tilting....portions of the earth have more or less sunlight focused on them...resulting in warmer or colder climatic changes.