Does the earth's inclination (27 1/2 deg) help us in any way ?

Question

Anything on seasons, day/night etc.....

Answer 1

The Seasons are caused by the Earth's inclination - they are definitely not caused by the varying difference between the Earth and the Sun. For one thing, when the Earth is closest to the Sun is when we experience Winter in the Northern Hemisphere.

Other planets having an inclination will likewise experience seasons, e.g. Mars which is inclined at 23° 59', almost the same as the Earth's.

Winter is experienced in a particular location when that particular location is 'tipped away' from the Sun, thus

* There is a greater thickness of atmosphere for the Sun's radiation to 'fight thru'. Earth is heated ultimately by the Sun's radiation hitting the ground and being re-radiated as Infra Red. High mountains might be closer to the Sun but they are undoubtedly colder - it is re-radiated heat from the ground that is responsible for the Earth's temperature.
* Because of the Earth's inclination, less radiation would hit the Earth per unit area anyway
* The Sun is in the sky for less hours per day

The increased length of daylight that we experience during Summer is a function of latitude. Considering the extremes:

* At the equator, there will be little difference in daylight length during the course of te year
* At the pole, daytime length will be longer than elsewheree and on midsummer day will amount to full 24 hours of daylight.

This scenario will be reversed during Winter, with the pole experiencing 24 hour nighttime on midwinter day, and Scandanavian countries only having a few hours of daylight each 24 hours.

Answer 2

It is 23.5° not 27.5°. Look at the latitudes of the Tropics of Capricorn and Cancer.

The tilt of the Earth together with its orbit round the Sun causes the apparent movement north and south of the Sun during the year and provides seasonal variation.

Answer 3

Absolutely - without that inclincation or tilt there would be no seasons.