What explains why the Earth has seasons?

What explains why the Earth has seasons?

• A. Seasons are caused by the distance to the Sun.
• B. The Moon controls seasonal changes.
• C. The tilt makes the Sun move closer or farther away each season.
• D. The tilt changes which hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during different times of the year.

Answer: (D)

Seasons happen mainly because the Earth's axis is tilted as it orbits the Sun. That tilt means that at different times of the year different hemispheres lean toward or away from the Sun. When a hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, sunlight hits more directly and days are longer, warming that hemisphere (summer). About six months later, that hemisphere tilts away, so sunlight is less direct and days are shorter, cooling (winter). The distance to the Sun changes only a little and doesn’t drive the seasons, and the Moon doesn’t control seasonal changes. The idea that the tilt changes which hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during different times of the year explains why one hemisphere experiences summer while the other experiences winter.

Seasons happen mainly because the Earth's axis is tilted as it orbits the Sun. That tilt means that at different times of the year different hemispheres lean toward or away from the Sun. When a hemisphere tilts toward the Sun, sunlight hits more directly and days are longer, warming that hemisphere (summer). About six months later, that hemisphere tilts away, so sunlight is less direct and days are shorter, cooling (winter). The distance to the Sun changes only a little and doesn’t drive the seasons, and the Moon doesn’t control seasonal changes. The idea that the tilt changes which hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun during different times of the year explains why one hemisphere experiences summer while the other experiences winter.