Thursday, September 20, 2012

How earth’s tilt affects Antarctica

   Around the world there are four seasons; summer, fall, winter and spring. During the summer you get more sunlight and, during fall, the hours of sunlight decreases. During the winter the hours of sunlight decreases even more, during the spring the hours of sunlight you get in a day will start to increase again. You will be surprised to know that Antarctica only has two seasons; winter and summer. Antarctica has six months of summer and six months of winter. During the summer Antarctica gets a full 24 hours of sunlight for six months. During the winter Antarctica gets a full 24 hours of darkness for six months.

   Many people in our society believe seasons are caused by the distance of the earth from the sun. The seasons have to do with the earths tilt maintaining the same angle. Earth’s tilt is the reason why Antarctica only has two seasons. When the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun Antarctica receives sunlight causing summer to happen. Antarctica’s 24 hour sunlight occurs because the bottom of the earth is always tilted towards the sun during summer. When the Southern Hemisphere is titled away from the sun; Antarctica receives no sunlight causing winter to happen. Antarctica’s 24 darkness occurs because the bottom of the earth is always tilted away from the sun during the winter. We now know that Antarctica has 24 hour days of darkness and 24 hour day’s sunlight depending on the season.  Antarctica is located at a latitude and longitude of 90° 00' S and 0° 00' E when looking for it on a map. When looking for those coordinates on a map you will find that Antarctica is located at the bottom of our earth. The farther away you get from these coordinates the days will become normal.

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