Question

The illustration on the right shows Earth and the Sun. What season does the Southern Hemisphere experience when Earth and the Sun are in the positions shown?

A) Summer
B) Winter
C) Spring
D) Autumn

Answer 1

The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer when it leans towards the Sun, which occurs in December when the Northern Hemisphere is in winter. Earth's axial tilt plays a crucial role in seasonality, leading to longer, warmer days in the Southern Hemisphere during this period.

Step-by-step explanation:

The Southern Hemisphere experiences summer when it "leans into" the Sun and is illuminated more directly, which happens in December during the Northern Hemisphere's winter.

The Earth's axis is tilted at 23.5°, meaning that during its orbit around the Sun, different hemispheres receive varying amounts of sunlight at different times of the year. When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, the Sun's rays are more intense and the days are longer, leading to the summer season. This tilt, rather than the physical distance from the Sun, is the primary reason for the seasonal temperature differences.

Around December, the North tilts away from the Sun resulting in shorter days and colder temperatures, which is winter for the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere leans into the Sun and enjoys warmer temperatures and longer days, hence summer in regions like Australia. This phenomenon illustrates that seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere.