2007-09-10 00:40:54 · 6 answers · asked by lukydb 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Geography
Earth's poles are 'tilted' with respect to the sun, by about 23° from being perpendicular.
Google for earth tilt and you'll get LOTS of explanation of why this affects length of days and creates winter and summer (and drives much of our weather)
On the equinox, you still get latitute-specific effects. Read the second full paragraph of http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autumnal_Equinox_Day
2007-09-10 01:13:19 · answer #1 · answered by tinfoil666 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
At the equator; which is the line around the earthe plane of rotation about the sun, the days and nights are always the same; 12 hours each (that is what 'equator' means). The further we move away from the equator, the greater the difference between night and day. However, because of the tilt of the earth's axis, there is a variation from season to season, as first the northern hemisphere, then the southern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, and the length of the day varies from the shortest period (winter solstice) to greatest period (summer solstice); six moths different between the hemispheres. It stands to reason, that there must be two times per year, when the day and night are the same length, as the seasons go through their cycle. These are the spring and autumn equinoxes.
2007-09-10 09:56:17 · answer #2 · answered by AndrewG 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
At my latitude, the days are 12 hours on the equinox. Without looking at a map, I think I'm at about 45 northern latitude.
It should be pretty much the same all over the globe, but at the equinonx, it is changing very fast and sometimes seems the days are getting short (or long) so fast that more sunlight is being lost (gained) than really is.
2007-09-10 08:00:42 · answer #3 · answered by Joan H 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the equinox, all days are 12 hrs long irrespective of latitude. If you think about it, it has to be that way... before the equinox, all days to the north were (say) longer and to the south shorter... and after the exquinox it's the other way round. Which means that ON the equinox they pretty much ALL have to be exactly even (ie. 12 hrs long).
2007-09-10 15:34:22 · answer #4 · answered by Yokki 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
On the actual day of the equinox, there shouldn't be a difference. However, one or two days to either side of the equinox there will be differences based upon ones latitude.
2007-09-10 08:58:18 · answer #5 · answered by Asher S 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm with you. The only thing I can think that would make a difference is that the sun is perpendicular to the equator for a short time on the day of the equinox. I wouldn't think the differences would be appreciable except to a small few. You've piqued my interest, what makes you ask this question?
2007-09-10 07:49:00 · answer #6 · answered by GeekCreole 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋