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Reasons for the Seasons
An article about Astronomy & Deep Space
There are three factors that result in seasons:
- The Earth’s revolution around the Sun
- The Earth’s tilt on its axis
- Earth is always tilted towards Polaris
Please note: the Earth’s distance from the sun does NOT influence the seasons (Earth’s orbit is nearly a circle, refer to the eccentricity value on page 15 of the Earth Science Reference Tables)
Locations on the Earth’s surface receive different amounts of solar radiation (insolation) throughout the year. Places close to the Equator receive intense insolation throughout the year and therefore do not experience a large seasonal variation.
The Earth’s tilt of 23.5º on its axis of rotation plays a very important role in seasons. Latitudes between 23.5º North through latitudes 23.5º South will receive direct insolation (the sun’s rays will hit the Earth’s surface at a 90º angle).
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