The Seasons and the Sun
by Jessica Fries-Gaither
Rain, wind, snow. What's the weather like where you live?
We have four seasons on Earth. In most places, each season has different weather. Summer is warm, or even hot! Winter can be cold and snowy or rainy, depending on where you live.
The seasons usually have different weather. But they do have something in common. All the seasons depend on the Sun.
What does the Sun have to do with the seasons? Everything!
The Sun's light shines on Earth. That light makes Earth's land, air, and water warm. This warmth is important. It makes life on Earth possible. It also has a lot to do with our seasons.
Even if we can't always see the Sun, its light is important all year round. There are fewer hours of daylight in the winter. The Sun rises later and sets earlier. This means that temperatures are colder.
In the summer, there are more hours of daylight. The Sun rises earlier and sets later. This means that temperatures are warmer. In the spring and fall, there are fewer hours of daylight than in the summer, but more than in the winter. And the temperature is in-between, too.
At the North and South Poles, the seasons are extreme. In the winter, the Sun doesn't rise for several months. In the summer, the Sun doesn't set for several months. The North and South Poles have cool (or cold) temperatures year-round.
There is one place on Earth where seasons aren't all that different. That place is the equator. Near the equator, there is always the same amount of daylight. Temperatures are always very warm, or even hot.
So, for most places on Earth, the seasons change because of the Sun.
What have you noticed about the Sun this season? Keep an eye on the amount of sunlight each day and you will know when the seasons are changing.
Find other stories at
http://beyondweather.ehe.osu.edu/stories-for-students