What season does the Southern Hemisphere experience when Earth and the Sun are in the positions shown? fall spring summer winter
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
In the Southern Hemisphere, when Earth and the Sun are in the positions shown, the season is summer.
This phenomenon occurs during the Southern Hemisphere’s summer solstice, which typically takes place around December 21 or 22. During this time, the South Pole is tilted toward the Sun, and as a result, the Southern Hemisphere receives the most direct sunlight. This direct sunlight causes longer days and higher temperatures, characteristic of the summer season.
On the opposite side, the Northern Hemisphere experiences its winter solstice at the same time. The Earth’s axial tilt of about 23.5 degrees plays a key role in this. The tilt causes different parts of Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year, resulting in the changing seasons. When the South Pole is tilted toward the Sun, areas south of the equator (like Australia, South America, and parts of Africa) experience their longest day of the year and the hottest temperatures of the season.
During the Southern Hemisphere’s summer, the days are longer, and the Sun’s rays hit the surface more directly, leading to higher temperatures. Conversely, in the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice marks the shortest day and the coldest season, as the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun.
This alignment of Earth and the Sun is a natural result of Earth’s orbit around the Sun, which takes about 365.25 days. These seasonal variations are not only due to the Earth’s orbit but also because of its axial tilt, which creates different climate conditions depending on where you are on the globe.
