A season is a period of the year that is distinguished by
special climate conditions. The four seasons—spring, summer,
fall, and winter—follow one another regularly. Each has its own
light, temperature, and weather patterns that repeat yearly.
Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in
the Northern Hemisphere. For example, under the definition of
astronomical seasons, the June solstice marks the start of
summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is the start
of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The same rule applies for
the other seasons.
Seasons happen because Earth’s axis is tilted at an angle of
about 23.4 degrees and different parts of Earth receive more
solar energy than others. Four seasons — autumn, winter,
spring and summer occur throughout the year. The timing of the
seasons is opposite for each hemisphere. This is because
when the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the Northern
Hemisphere faces the sun at a greater angle than the Southern
Hemisphere. During the winter solstice, the sun is at its lowest
path in the sky, resulting in the shortest day of the year.
Summer is the season with the longest days and warmest
temperatures, with winter being the opposite. Spring represents
the time when the days start to get longer, with more hours of
sunlight.
Winter, coldest season of the year,
between autumn and spring; the name comes from an old
Germanic word that means “time of water” and refers to
the rain and snow of winter in middle and high latitudes. In
the Northern Hemisphere it is commonly regarded as
extending from the winter solstice (year’s shortest day),
December 21 or 22, to the vernal equinox (day and night
equal in length), March 20 or 21, and in the Southern
Hemisphere from June 21 or 22 to September 22 or 23. The
low temperatures associated with winter occur only in middle
and high latitudes; in equatorial regions, temperatures are
almost uniformly high throughout the year.
Summer, warmest season of the year, between spring
and autumn. In the Northern Hemisphere, it is usually
defined as the period between the summer solstice (year’s
longest day), June 21 or 22, and the autumnal equinox (day
and night equal in length), September 22 or 23; and in the
Southern Hemisphere, as the period between December 22
or 23 and March 20 or 21. The temperature contrast between
summer and the other seasons exists only in middle and high
latitudes; temperatures in the equatorial regions generally
vary little from month to month.
Spring, in climatology, season of the year
between winter and summer during which temperatures
gradually rise. It is generally defined in the Northern
Hemisphere as extending from the vernal equinox (day and
night equal in length), March 20 or 21, to the summer
solstice (year’s longest day), June 21 or 22, and in the
Southern Hemisphere from September 22 or 23 to December
22 or 23. The spring temperature transition from winter cold
to summer heat occurs only in middle and high latitudes;
near the Equator, temperatures vary little during the year.
Spring is very short in the polar regions.
Autumn, season of
the year between summer and winter during which
temperatures gradually decrease. It is often called fall in
the United States because leaves fall from the trees at that
time. Autumn is usually defined in the Northern Hemisphere
as the period between the autumnal equinox (day and night
equal in length), September 22 or 23, and the winter
solstice (year’s shortest day), December 21 or 22; and in the
Southern Hemisphere as the period between March 20 or 21
and June 21 or 22. The autumn temperature transition
between summer heat and winter cold occurs only in middle
and high latitudes; in equatorial regions, temperatures
generally vary little during the year. In the polar regions
autumn is very short.
