Answer:
1) Orbital cycles
2) Seasons happen because of the Earth's tilt on its axis and its elliptical orbit around the Sun. These factors cause the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface to vary over the course of the year, leading to the distinct seasons that we experience.
Step-by-step explanation:
1. Orbital cycles influence Earth's climate by changing how much solar energy reaches the Earth. Orbital cycles are the long-term changes in Earth's orbit around the Sun that occur over thousands of years. These changes can cause variations in the amount of solar energy that reaches the Earth's surface, which can have a significant impact on Earth's climate.
2. Seasons happen because of the Earth's tilt on its axis and its elliptical orbit around the Sun. The Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane, and this tilt causes the amount of sunlight that reaches the Earth's surface to vary over the course of the year. During the winter months in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted away from the Sun. This means that the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a lower angle, and the Northern Hemisphere receives less direct sunlight. As a result, the air temperature decreases, and the weather becomes colder. In the summer months, the opposite occurs. The North Pole is tilted toward the Sun, and the Northern Hemisphere receives more direct sunlight. This causes the air temperature to increase, and the weather becomes warmer. The Earth's elliptical orbit around the Sun also plays a role in the seasons. When the Earth is closer to the Sun, it receives more solar energy, and the seasons are more pronounced. When the Earth is farther from the Sun, it receives less solar energy, and the seasons are less pronounced.