Why do we have different seasons ....?
96027
The Earth rotates around the sun tilted at a 34 (is it?) degree angle, and rotates while moving around the sun. Because of the action, it creates different points of direct sunlight (though the equator still has the most direct exposure) and the regions where the sun directs rays to experiences summer, and likewise, the opposite side of the Earth experiences winter. Does this help?
776609
it wouldn't exsist, we need the change in weather for everything to function the way it does.  If we could live with just one season, I would love to have summer all the time
1010212
Earth is closest to the Sun in early January (winter for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere, summer for those in the Southern Hemisphere) and farthest in early July.  Distance, however, has absolutely nothing to do with our seasons.  (If it did, the whole world would have the same seasons at the same time.)  Seasons are caused by Earth's tilt.  \n\nAnd NO, summer in the Northern Hemisphere is not caused by the Northern Hemisphere being *closer* to the Sun.  Think about it - if the varying distance of the entire Earth - several million miles - makes no difference in our seasons, how would the varying distance caused solely by our tilt - a few thousand miles - affect anything?  This is a common misconception, but it is wrong.\n\nSeasons are caused by the varying height of the Sun.  In the summer, the Sun gets higher in the sky during the day, heating your area of the Earth more effectively.  In winter, the Sun does not get very high, and so its energy is more spread out, and thus heats less effectively.
950189
You did meant to say "months" twice, right?  Because moths and months are slightly different things.\n\nAnyway, the difference is caused by how close the earth is to the sun (during its orbit around the sun.)  When the earth spins each day, it turns from day to night because the earth is facing the sun for half of the turn (roughly) and facing away for the other half (causing day and night.)  But depending on the orbit, the sun hits the earth differently.\n\nThe sun in fall and winter is more direct, I mean, like it hits you in the face.  It's, um, slanted differently.  But the light is weaker since the part of the earth that's having cold weather is tilted further from the sun.  Did I mention that the earth is tilted?  So that way, one hemisphere is tilted closer to the sun during one side of the orbit, and the other hemisphere gets the seasons during the opposite time of year (other side of the orbit.)  \n\nOK, like imagine that this percent mark % represents the northern and southern hemispheres.  Imagine that the % mark is traveling in a circle around a central sphere.  So on one side of the circle, the upper 0 is tilted toward the sun (spring and summer) and the lower 0 is on the other side of the tilted line and it's further from the sun.  But when the % gets to the other side of the circle, the *upper* 0 is on the far side of the tilted line and then the *lower* 0 is closer to the sun.  Which gives you seasons.\n\nI guess it gets lighter and darker faster because there's less clouds in fall and winter (it's colder, so there's less smog and haze and cloud cover in general) so dawn and dusk seem to happen faster.  Plus, there's less light and heat in general.  \n\nI hope that made sense.  The % thing makes sense to me, but if it doesn't, then make yourself a 3D model and see if it makes sense.
192644
Because they are further from the sun, and therefore are colder regions, the same reason that the equator is a much warmer, temperate climate. \n\nAlso to note is that on the equator the days are almost the same length all year round and the nearer to the poles you go the more the days and nights are affected. At the north pole some times of year are permanently light and the opposite at the south pole. This is due to the Earth's tilt.
497884
The Sun is slightly closer in January at perihelion (147.5 million kilometers) and slightly farther away in July at aphelion (152.6 million kilometers).  Earth’s slightly elliptical orbit is not responsible for our seasons, however.\n\nEarth’s axis is tilted 23.5 degrees with respect to the plane of our orbit around the Sun.  Summer occurs when one’s hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun; winter when it’s tipped away.  Thus, seasons in Australia are reversed relative to North America—summer in Melbourne is winter in New York, and vice-versa.  (I’m sadly aware of that effect, since I’m travelling to Melbourne in a few months.)\n\n\nRyan Wyatt\nRose Center for Earth & Space\nNew York, New York
23416
shorter ... im not sure what you put as the last letter is right.  In the summer the angle that the earth is tilted makes the shadows (in the northern hemisphere) SHORTER than in winter.
20703
Since this is for school, I think you should do your own research, don't you?  Here's a link that may help answer your question.  Also bear in mind that seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite of the Northern--it's summer in Australia right now!
424090
umm. where at? because the eastern and western hemisphere's experience opposite seasons.\n\npablodiablo1981 is correct, i made a mistake. it is southern and northern.
378736
Keep in mind, things like seasons, months, minutes, etc, are human contructs- we can define them anyway we like.  Earth doesnt really neatly divide the year into 4 parts, humans do-
453907
Yes New York has 4 seasons. In the spring it can range from the high 30's to the 70's and the fall is the same. The weather is very unpredictable then.
828997
I believe you are referring to the changes in the seasons.  Because the rotational axis of the earth is tilted a bit more than 23 degrees away from it's orbital plane the earth gets a bit more in the way of the sun (so to speak) as winter approaches so sunrise is a bit later each day, and sunset a bit earlier.  After the winter solstice less and less of the earth is in the way, so sunrise starts a bit earlier each day, and sunset a bit later, until the summer solstice.  Interestingly dusk is longer in the winter because the sun rises and sets at more of an angle to the horizon.  For the same reason, in the tropics dusk is shorter because the sun rises and sets more nearly vertical.  In the more northern part of the northern hemisphere and the more southern part of the southern hemisphere dusk may last all night long in the summer (culminating in the "midnight sun" north of the arctic or south of the antarctic circles).  In addition, due to the refraction of the atmosphere we see the sun earlier than actual sunrise and later than actual sunset (the atmosphere acts as sort of a lens).
956352
we have the hottest country, dryest country, most moist country, coldest country in asia..that's why it's like a fusion\nall type of climate in one continent...we have country that have seasons and we have country that does not have seasons..for example japan has four seasons, but singapore does not have seasons
221957
It has always seemed odd to me to have daylight savings time in the summer when the days are already naturally longer.  It is logical to me to at least try using it in the winter or not at all.
209839
I think because different parts of the country still have snow and ice, while others are in the real spring and summer...\nIt just depends on where you live...
1181774
I have to agree with you, Winter is definitely the best season. Summer is the worst, it's too hot. Spring is okay, but it's always raining. Fall is pretty good, cool temperatures and nice colors, but Winter is definitely the best.
1085500
It gets hot only during the summer time because the Earth is tilted towards the Sun during the summer, so the hemisphere that is facing the sun heats up. Strangely, when the Earth is farthest away from the Sun, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, and it is summer there. This shows that the tilt of the Earth is more important than the distance away from the Sun when it comes to seasons. It really depends on where you live, though, because if you live on the Equator, it is hot throughout the year, and there are no seasons. In contrast, it is always cold at the poles, and there are no seasons.