” On the June solstice (summer) in the Northern Hemisphere, sunshine is more direct, so it warms the ground more efficiently,” said Mitzi Adams. She is an Assistant Manager in the Heliophysics and Planetary Science Branch at NASAs Marshall Space Flight. “In the Southern Hemisphere, sunlight is less direct (winter), which indicates that the ground is not heated as easily.”
A visual aid to much better understand how the Earths slanted axis triggers the various seasons throughout the year in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Credit: NASA/Space Place
While astronomical seasons are defined by the Earths journey around the Sun, meteorological seasons are assisted by yearly temperature cycles. Meteorologists group the seasons into period that line up with the weather and regular monthly calendar: December through February is winter season, March through May is spring, June through August is summer, and September through November is fall.
On the other hand, stronomical seasons are marked by the equinoxes and solstices that each take place two times a year. Solstices are when the Sun appears to reach the most affordable or acme in the sky all year; they mark the start of summer season or winter. Solstices are commonly described as the longest (summer solstice) or shortest (winter solstice) day of the year.
The September equinox is a time that invites Earthlings to a new season. To those in the Northern Hemisphere, delight in the start of milder weather after a hot summertime and state hi to late sunrises and early sunsets.
Representation of equinoxes and solstices. This year, the autumnal equinox happens on September 22, marking the official start of Fall 2022.
Matched by cooler temperatures and falling leaves, the September equinox declares the main start of the fall season for the Northern Hemisphere. For 2022, this years autumnal equinox (for the Northern Hemisphere) or spring equinox (for the Southern Hemisphere) happens on September 22 at 8:04 p.m. CDT.
Throughout an equinox, the Sun shines directly over the equator, according to Alphonse Sterling, an astrophysicist at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. Following the autumnal equinox, the Northern Hemisphere slowly experiences later sunrises and earlier sundowns– making the days shorter and the nightfall longer.
An illustration of the March (spring) and September (fall or fall) equinoxes. Throughout the equinoxes, both hemispheres receive nearly equivalent quantities of daytime.
Seasons are the results of Earths tilted axis, which always points in the same direction. As Earth orbits around the Sun, the angle of sunlight that the Northern and Southern Hemispheres get is various.
Following the autumnal equinox, the Northern Hemisphere gradually experiences later daybreaks and earlier sunsets– making the days much shorter and the nightfall longer. An illustration of the March (spring) and September (fall or fall) equinoxes. Throughout the equinoxes, both hemispheres receive almost equal quantities of daylight. On the other hand, stronomical seasons are marked by the equinoxes and solstices that each occur two times a year.