TEMPERATURE, SEASONS, SOLTICES, and equinoxes

Temperature and latitude Because Earth’s surface is curved, different parts of Earth’s surface receive different amounts of the sun’s energy. Temperature and latitude Sunlight hitting Earth at the equator is direct Sunlight hitting the curved portions of Earth spreads out, meaning this area receives less energy when compared to the non-curved portions (equator)

Temperature and latitude Earth’s surface becomes more tilted as you move away from the equator Heat energy from the sun becomes more spread out the further you travel from the equator This means that regions near the poles receive less energy than regions near the equator This makes Earth colder at the poles and warmer at the equator

What causes the seasons? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p0wk4qG2mIg Misconceptions

SEASONS ARE NOT CAUSED BY EARTH’S DISTANCE FROM THE SUN!!! In fact, Earth is closest to the sun in January and furthest in July sEASONS

seasons Earth’s seasons are caused by the combination of two things: The 23.5° tilt of the Earth’s axis Earth’s revolution around the sun

Spring and Summer in the northern hemisphere / Fall and winter in the southern hemisphere During ½ of Earth’s orbit, the north end of the rotation axis is towards the sun Because of this, during this time, the northern hemisphere receives more sunlight energy as compared to the southern hemisphere Temperatures increase in the northern hemisphere and decrease in the southern hemisphere Daylight hours last longer in the northern hemisphere and nights last longer in the southern hemisphere

Spring and Summer in the SOUTHERN hemisphere / Fall and winter in the Northern hemisphere During the other ½ of Earth’s orbit, the south end of the rotation axis is towards the sun Because of this, during this time, the southern hemisphere receives more sunlight energy as compared to the northern hemisphere Temperatures increase in the southern hemisphere and decrease in the northern hemisphere Daylight hours last longer in the southern hemisphere and nights last longer in the northern hemisphere

FUN FACT! In Australia (southern hemisphere), New Year’s Day is celebrated on the same day as it is in the northern hemisphere, but down under, New Year’s Day is a summer holiday!

REVIEW Identify a location on Earth that is experiencing…. Picture 1 A summer night A summer day A winter night A winter day Picture 2

Solstice Solstice: a day when Earth’s rotation axis is the most toward or away from the Sun There are two solstices each year: December Solstice (north end of axis is most away from the sun) June Solstice (north end of axis is more towards the sun)

December Solstice December 21st or 22nd (2017 – 21st) NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Shortest day of the year Longest night of the year Winter begins SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Longest day of the year Shortest night of the year Summer begins

June Solstice June 20th or 21st (2017- 21st ) NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Longest day of the year Shortest night of the year Summer begins SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Shortest day of the year Longest night of the year Winter begins

Equinox Equi means “the same” Equinox: a day when Earth’s rotation axis is leaning along Earth’s orbit, neither toward nor away from the Sun There are two equinoxes each year: March Equinox (same amount of sunlight in northern and southern hemisphere) September Equinox (same amount of sunlight in northern and southern hemisphere)

March Equinox March 20th or 21st (2017: 20th) There are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness everywhere on Earth NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Spring begins SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Autumn begins

September equinox September 22nd or 23rd (2017: 22nd) There are 12 hours of daylight and 12 hours of darkness everywhere on earth NORTHERN HEMISPHERE Autumn begins SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE Spring begins