Final answer:
The days become shorter in the winter and longer in the summer as the latitude increases due to Earth's axial tilt, affecting the amount of sunlight different regions receive during the seasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The higher the latitude (or the farther north and south), the shorter the days get in the winter, and the longer the days get in the summer. This is due to the tilt of the Earth's axis, which causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
During winter solstice around December 21, the situation is such that in the Northern Hemisphere, days are at their shortest. Conversely, the Southern Hemisphere experiences its longest days, indicating summer. Near the poles, this contrast is extreme, leading to phenomena such as the midnight Sun in summer and polar night in winter.
At equinoxes, day and night are approximately equal, with the Sun crossing the equator. The tilt also causes the Sun's rays to hit at more direct angles during summer, contributing to increased temperatures, while in winter, the low angle of sunlight results in less direct solar heating and colder temperatures.