Earth’s HemispheresSummer Solstice June 21Tropic of Cancer 23.5º NequatorNorthernHemisphereWinter Solstice December 21Tropic of Capricorn23.5º SequatorSouthernHemisphereequatorNorthernHemisphereSouthernHemisphereSpring EquinoxMarch 20Fall Equinox September 22© Copyright NewPath Learning. All Rights Reserved. 94-4588Visit www.newpathlearning.com for Online Learning Resources.Photos courtesy of NASA.Latitude and the SunLatitude is a key factor affecting the climate in a particular location on Earth. Because the Earth is a globe, the Sun’s rays hit more directly at the equator than near the poles. This means the Sun’s energy is more concentrated near the equator and more spread out near the poles. Average temperatures become cooler moving from the equator to higher latitudes.Earth’s Tilt Causes SeasonsAs the Earth revolves around the Sun, the planet tilts 23.5 degrees on its axis of rotation. The degree to which various points on the globe are pointing toward or away from the Sun determines the seasons. The Northern and Southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons throughout the year.SolsticeIn the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs on June 21 when the Sun’s rays are directly hitting the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees north of the equator. Six months later, the winter solstice occurs on December 21 when the most direct sunlight hits the Tropic of Capricorn in the Southern hemisphere.EquinoxMarch 20 and September 22 are the equinox dates when the Sun’s rays are directly hitting the Earth’s equator. Neither hemisphere is tilted toward or away from the Sun. All locations on Earth experience approximately equal hours of day and night on these days.SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSuuuuummmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeeeer Solstice JJJJJJJJJJunnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee 222221Tropic of Cancer23.5º NequatorrNNNNNNNNNNoorrrrrrrrrrrrrtttttttttthernNNNooooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrttrrrrrrrrrtttttttttttrrrrNNNNNNNNNNNNNNoorrrrrrrrrNNNNNNNN rrrrrrrrrrrrrttttttttttNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNmiiisssssssssspppppppppppppphhhhhhhhhheereemiiimimmiiieeHeeeeeeeeHHHHHeeeeHHHHHHHeeeeHHeeeeHHHHHHHHeeeeeHeeeHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHeeeeeeeeeeeeemmHHHHHHeeeeeeHHHHHHHHHHHeeHHHHeeHeeeHHeeHHeHeeHHHHHeeeeeeHHHHHHHHHHeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeHHHHWinter SolsticeDecember 21Tropic of Capricorn23.5º SppequatorouthernnnSoemispherereeerrereHemequatortttrtrrNorNorthernNorrrrtrttrrtNortNorrttNororrrtrtrtrttrrteHHeHemmispheremHeemisHemmHHeeHeenherntherherrnSouteresphereereeeHemisSpring EquinoxMarch 20Fall EquinoxFFSeptember 22Latittttttttttttuuuuuuuuuuuudddddddddddddeeeeeeeee is a keeeeeeeeeeeeeyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy faaaaaaaaaaacccccccccccctor afffffffffffffffffffeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeectttttttttiiiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnng the cccccccccccllllllllllllliiiiiiiiiimmmmmmmmmmmmmaaaaaaaaaaaaattte in a ppppppppppppppppppppaaaaaaaarttttiiiiiiiiiiicccccccccccuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuulllllllllllllaaaaaaaaaar location onnnnnnnn EEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh..... BBBBBBBBBBBBBBBecause the Earthis aaaaaaaaaaaa ggggggggggggglllllllllloooooooooobbbbbbeeeeeeeee, ttttttttttttthe Sunnnnnnnnn’ssssssssss rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyssssssssssss hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttt mmmmmmore directly at ttttthe equuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaaattttttttttttoooooooooooooor thhhhhhhhhhhaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnneeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrr tttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhe poles. This means ttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeee Sun’s enerrgggggggggggggyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy iiiiiiiiiisssss mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmoooooooooooooooorrrrrre concentrated near the eeeeeeeeeeeeqqqqqqqqqqqqqqquuuuuuuuuuuuuuuaaaaaaaaaaaaator andddddddd mmmmmmmmmmmmmoore ssssssssssssppppppppppppppprrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaaddddddd out near the poles. AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAvvvvvvvvvvvveeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaaaaaaaage ttttttttttttteeeeeeeeeeeeemmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmppppppppppppppppppppeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrratures bbbbecome cooler moving from thheeeeeeeeeeeee eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeqqqqqqqqqqqquuuuaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttttttooooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrr ttttttttttooooooooooooooooo hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhigher latitudes.As the Earth revolves around the Sun, the planet tilts 23.5 degrees on its axis of rotation. The degree to which various points on the globe are pointing toward or away from the Sun determines the seasons. The Northern and Southern hemispheres experience opposite seasons throughout the year.In the Northern Hemisphere, the summmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmeeeeeeeer ssssssssssooooooooooooollllllllllsssssssssssstttttttice oooooccurrrrrrrrrrrrrssssssssssss ooon Junnnnnnneeeeeeee 22222222222222221111111111111111 when the Sun’s rays are directly hitting the Tropic of Cancer, 23.5 degrees nortttttthhhhhhhhhhhh oooooooooooooooooffffffffffff tttttttttttthhhhe eeqqqqqqqqqqqqqqquuuuuuuuuuuatorrrr....... SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSiiiiiiiiiiiixxxxxxxxxxx monthhhhhsssssssssss llllllllllllllater, the rwinter solstice occurs on December 21 when the mmmmmmmmmmmmmooooooooooooossssssssssssstttttttttt dddddddddddddddddddiiiiiiiiiiiiirrrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeccccccccccctttttttttt ssssunliggggggggggggghhhhhhhhhhhhttttttttttt hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiittttttttttssssssssssssssss tttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhe TTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooooppppppppppppppppppiiiiccccccccccccc ooooooooooooofffffff CCCCCCCCCCCCCCCCaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappppppppppppppppppricorn in the Southern hemisphere.MMMMMMMMMMMMarrrrrrrrcccccccccccccchhhhhhhhhhhhhh 222222222222222000000000000000 aaaaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddddddd SSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSeptembbbbbbbbbbbbbeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeerrrrrrrrrrrr 22222222222222222 aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrreeeeeeeeeeeee the eqqqqqqqqqqqquuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnox dates when the SSSSSSSSSSSSSSuuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnnn’’’’’’ssssssssssss rrrrrrrrrrraaays are directly hhhhhhhhhhhhhhiiiiiiiiiiitttttttttttttttttttttttttttiiiiiiiiiiinnnnnnnnnnnnnnggggggggggggg ttttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeeeee Earthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh’’’’’ssssssssssssss equator. Neiiiiiiiitttttttttttthhhhhhhhhhhhhhhheeeeeeeeerr hemisphere is tilted towwwwwwaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrddddddddddddddd oooooorrrrrrrrr aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwwwway from the SSSSSSSSSSSSuuuuuuuuuuuuunnnnnnnnnnnnnn...... All locations on Earth experiencceeeeeeeeeeeeee aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaappppppppppppppppppppppppppproximately eeeeeeeeeeeeqqqqqqqqqqqqqqqualllllllll hhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhooooooooooouuuuuuuuuuuurs of day and night on thessssseeeeeeeeeeee dddddddddddddddddddaaaaaaaaaays.
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