Final answer:
When the tilt of Earth's axis is larger, higher seasonality occurs with hotter summers and colder winters, while a smaller tilt results in decreased seasonality, with milder temperatures in both seasons.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tilt of the Earth's axis is a significant factor in determining our global climate and the seasonality experienced in various parts of the world. When the tilt of Earth's axis increases to a larger angle, such as up to 24.5°, it results in higher seasonality. This means that there will be hotter summers and colder winters due to the greater difference in temperature between these seasons.
The increase in obliquity, or the degree of the axial tilt, enhances the contrast between the seasons because the angle at which sunlight hits the Earth changes more drastically throughout the year. In summer, the sunlight strikes the Earth more directly, leading to increased warming, while in winter, the angle is shallower, resulting in less warming and thus colder temperatures.
Conversely, when the axial tilt is at the lower end of its cycle, at around 22.1°, there is decreased seasonality. This scenario leads to more mild temperatures in both summer and winter, with smaller differences between the hottest and coldest parts of the year. The tilt of the Earth's axis and the change in obliquity are part of the Milankovitch cycles, which influence Earth's long-term climate and are contributing factors to phenomena such as the ice ages.