2007-10-09 08:27:36 · 8 answers · asked by goldylocks 2 in Science & Mathematics ➔ Weather
Because the Earth's axis is tilted by 5 degrees as it orbits the sun.
During the winter months the axis of the Earth nearest you leans away from the sun so there is less exposure which is why temperatures are cooler. During the summer months the axis nearest you leans toward the sun. The same is true of the opposite hemisphere. When the days are shorter in the Northern Hemisphere, they are longer in the Southern. So when its wintertime in the US and Europe, it's summertime in Australia and South America.
It has nothing to do with the distance from the sun, because technically, the Earth is closest to the sun (92,000,000 mi. away) during the winter of the Northern Hemisphere. (It is 94,000,000 mi. away during the summer.)
2007-10-09 08:36:52 · answer #1 · answered by The Master 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
That is because the tilt of the Earth on it's axis, combined with the orbit of the Earth, causes the apparent position of the Sun to move southward between the Summer and Winter Solstices. This results in the Sun having a shorter trek across the sky, thus less time of daylight.
Actually, the days begin to become longer in northern hemisphere Winter since Winter is defined as the moment the Sun reaches it's apparent most southerly position. After that, the Sun appears to move north and little by little, the days get longer all the way until the Summer Solstice.
2007-10-09 08:35:12 · answer #2 · answered by cyswxman 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The sun does not follow the equator precisely. It is tilted 23.5 either north or south depending upon the season. In our fall and winter, the earth tilts so that the southern hemisphere is tilted toward the sun. Thus, their seasons are opposite of ours in the northern hemisphere.
2007-10-09 08:40:06 · answer #3 · answered by blazerang 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the tilt of the earth combined with the earths position in it's orbit around the sun causes less of the earths surface to be facing the sun during the winter. (depending on where you are on the globe this will be the opposite)
2007-10-09 08:37:43 · answer #4 · answered by ................ 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
IT IS DUE TO THE AXIAL TILT OF THE EARTH. IN THE WINTER THE SUNS RAYS ARE STRIKING THE EARTH SOUTH OF THE EQUATOR CAUSING THE DAYS IN THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE TO BE LONGER AND THOSE IN THE NORTHERN HEMISPHERE TO BE SHORTER. VICE VERSA IN THE SUMMER.
2007-10-09 08:41:12 · answer #5 · answered by Loren S 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
the earth tilts
2007-10-09 08:48:40 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
the tilt of the earth.
2007-10-09 08:31:15 · answer #7 · answered by jimstock60 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
We are further away from the sun
2007-10-09 08:30:10 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 2⤋