Question

Describe the factors that affect the seasons.

Answer 1

Hint: A season is a period of the year that is differentiated by or known for a special climate condition. There are 4 types of seasons experienced in the world. Various factors affect the seasons on our planet for example- the earth’s tilted axis is one of the factors.

Complete answer:
In the world, four types of seasons are experienced, namely Spring, Summer, Winter, and Autumn. These seasons are distinguished by temperature differences and the length of daylight.

Factors that affect seasons are as follows:
Earth’s axis: Tilted axis of the Earth is the main reason for the changes in seasons. Earth is tilted on its axis at an angle of 22.5 degrees. During the Earth’s orbit around the Sun, there are times of the year when the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun (around June) and also the times when the South Pole is tilted towards the Sun (around December). Therefore, in June, the Northern Hemisphere experiences summer because the Sun’s rays hit that part more directly than at any other time of the year, and in December, it experiences winter because at that time the South Pole is tilted towards the Sun. When Earth points at an angle of 90-degree, toward or away from the sun, the Northern Hemisphere experiences spring and fall seasons. In the Southern Hemisphere, seasons are the opposite; hence, June marks the start of the winter months, while December marks the start of the summer months.

Sunlight: Sunlight affects the seasons, especially the position of the sun and Earth's surface that reflects the light. The sun is positioned highest overhead during the summer months and that results in the transfer of the maximum amount of heat to the ground. Whereas, the sun is positioned lower in the sky during the winter months due to which the ground absorbs less heat, creating colder climates. Earth's surface also plays an important role in influencing the seasons by permitting the atmosphere to absorb or lose heat. For example, darker areas i.e., the areas with dense vegetation can absorb much more heat during the summer months, while areas having ice and snow reflect and lose heart.

Elevation: It also influences the seasons. It is the reason why some areas remain cold even during the summer months. Areas at higher elevations are generally colder, with the highest altitudes having a tough time sustaining life.

Wind patterns: Along with the seasons, the wind patterns also change. The cold air accumulates in the northern hemisphere during winters and the air heats up in the southern hemisphere during this time. The other half of the year experiences the opposite condition and this causes the formation of wind patterns from north to south or vice versa. These wind patterns cause changes in the temperature and humidity of the affected places.

Global warming: Global warming refers to the overall increase in the temperature of the planet. It is caused by the clearing of forests and the burning of fossil fuels. In turn, global warming further affects the seasons on earth. It has negative influences on the season, like; the rainfall patterns get disturbed, the summers become extremely hot and long, the winters get cut short, ice caps on mountains and at the poles of the earth melt at an alarming rate, etc.

Note: Seasons are seen only in the temperate zones. The regions around the equator do not experience changes in temperature and hence do not have any noticeable seasonal changes. These regions possess only 2 types of seasons, Wet and Dry season. Even the Polar Regions experience only two seasons, a light season and a dark season.