The Science Behind the Seasons

     The Earth's seasons are not caused by the differences in the distance from the sun throughout the year. The seasons are the result of the tilt of the Earth's axis.

The Earth's axis is tilted. This tilting is what gives us the four seasons of the year--spring, summer, autumn (fall), and winter.

Summer is warmer than winter because the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle during summer than during winter. It is also because the days are much longer than the nights during the summer.

During the winter, the sun's rays hit the Earth at an extreme angle, making the days very short. These effects are also due to the tilt of the Earth's axis.