Seasons, Day vs.

Night, Earth in Space

Rotating vs. Revolving (notes)

The earth rotates (spins) on its axis which takes 24 hours and results in day and night. The earth revolves (orbits) around the sun which takes 365 days and results in seasons.

For example, the use of the term revolves is correct in this sentence. "The moon revolves around the earth.

Day & Night

It is the earth's rotation on its axis that results in night and day. As Newfoundland rotates away from the sun it appears that the sun is setting in the west. In actual fact you are rotating away from the sun to the east. In the morning it appears that the sun rises in the east. In actual fact you are rotating towards the sun from the west.

Temps & Cloud Cover

Nightly cloud cover reduces the range of temperature from day to night.
Clouds reflect heat waves; heat below clouds is reflected back to earth; without clouds heat escapes giving colder nights.

Temps & Cloud Cover

Lack of cloud cover contributes to temperature patterns in the desert.
Lack of cloud cover in the day results in high daily temperatures; however in the night the lack of cloud cover allows the heat to escape resulting in cold nightly temperatures.

Differences in Day Length

The tilt of the earths axis combined with the earths rotation in orbit around the sun results in different day lengths. In June, because of the tilt on the earth's axis, the north pole points towards the sun and receives more hours of exposure to the sun hence giving it longer days. You can see that as the earth rotates Newfoundland "N" will spend more than 1/2 the time in sunlight. Light until 9:30 PM sunrise at 5:30 AM

Differences in Day Length

In December, because of the tilt on the earth's axis, the north pole points away from the sun and receives fewer hours of exposure to the sun hence giving it shorter days. You can see that as the earth rotates Newfoundland "N" will spend less than 1/2 the time in sunlight. Here the northern hem. rotates out of the sun for long periods. Dark at 5:30 PM, sunrise at 8:00 AM

SEASONS
The tilt on the earth's axis & the revolution of the earth around the sun These two features of the earth-sun relationship mean that different latitudes on earth receive different directness of light at different times. When the sun hits more directly the latitude gets hotter temperatures and what they call summer.

Equinox and Solstice

Solstice:
sun is directly over head @ 12 noon on 23.5 North or South; occurs Dec 21 & June 21; longest day of the year & shortest day of the year.

Equinox:
sun is directly over head @ 12 noon on the equator; occurs Sept. 21 & March 21; equal length of night and day everywhere on earth

Tropics vs. The Poles

The term tropics fosters images of warm climates. In everyday language it refers to warm equatorial climates.

The tropics are located between 23.5 degrees north and 23.5 degrees south.

The Tropics

Tropics vs. The Poles

This is important because the more direct the sunlight the more intense the heat. The further you move outside the tropics the more severe the seasons. The length of day varies more the further you move from the equator.

Tropics vs. The Poles

When light hits the earth towards the poles it is on a severe angle which decreases the intensity of heat. The same light/heat energy is spread over a greater area Fig 4.3 Solar Intensity & Latitude in your text

Latitude

Copy Fig 11-3. The Effects of latitude on Climate

Using the diagram as a guide, explain why areas far from

the equator experience colder temperatures than places near the equator

Summer & Winter Temperatures

There are two reasons for the difference in temperature during these seasons:
more direct sunlight gives greater intensity of heat longer summer daylight hours means there are more heating hours and fewer cooling hours