Seasons change. But what does that mean?
While spring usually signals warmer weather, the change toward spring is the result of how the earth is tilted. On the first day of spring the earth’s axis is not tilted away from or toward the sun. This tilt gives us a nearly equal amount of daylight and darkness across the earth and the sun is directly overhead at noon on the equator. The first day of spring can occur anywhere between March 20 and March 23.
As the days transition from spring toward summer, our earth is beginning to tilt toward the sun more each day. On this first day of summer, the sun is at its highest point in the sky, and we have our longest day of the year. The first day of summer can occur anywhere between June 20 and June 23.
Slowly through the summer, the tilt of the earth begins to change again, with the earth tilting less and less toward the sun each day. Pay careful attention to the shadows from the sun around your house from trees and buildings. You will notice the shadows getting longer as the sun gets lower in the sky with each passing day. What is the opposite of spring? If you answered fall you are correct! The sun is now lower in the sky than it was over the summer, but at the same height it was on the first day of spring. The first day of fall can occur anywhere between Sept. 20 and Sept. 23.
Through late fall the earth begins to tilt away from the sun more each day. On the first day of winter the sun is at its lowest point in the sky and we have our shortest day of the year. The first day of winter can occur anywhere between Dec. 20 and Dec. 23.
Now you know how and why the seasons change. It’s due to the tilt of the earth — not the calendar. Watch the sun and the shadows throughout the year to see the passage of the seasons.
