![]() The axis is always tilted in the same direction. The Old Farmer’s Almanac is an astronomical “calendar of the heavens,” so our book has long followed the astronomical definition of the seasons based on the Sun and Earth!Īs mentioned at the start of this article, the Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. According to this definition, each season begins on the first of a particular month and lasts for three months: Spring begins on March 1, summer on June 1, autumn on September 1, and winter on December 1. Climate scientists and meteorologists created this definition to make it easier to keep records of the weather, since the start of each meteorological season doesn’t change from year to year. In contrast, the meteorological start of a season is based on the annual temperature cycle and the 12-month calendar.A solstice is when the Sun reaches the most southerly or northerly point in the sky, while an equinox is when the Sun passes over Earth’s equator. Because of leap years, the dates of the equinoxes and solstices can shift by a day or two over time, causing the start dates of the seasons to shift, too. More specifically, the start of each season is marked by either a solstice (for winter and summer) or an equinox (for spring and autumn). The astronomical start of a season is based on the position of the Earth in relation to the Sun.Here is more explanation about how astronomers and meteorologists define seasons differently: Subtract 3 hours for Pacific time, 2 hours for Mountain time, 1 hour for Central time, and so on. Note: The dates above correspond to the start of the listed seasons in the Northern Hemisphere. The First Days of the Seasons Seasons of 2022 The meteorological start date is based on our 12-month civiil calendar as well as the annual temperature cycle.The astronomical start date is based on the position of the Sun in relation to the Earth.It sounds complicated, but trust us, it’s not! Each season has both an astronomical start and a meteorological start. However, the dates when the seasons begin and end vary depending on whom you ask. Our year (12 months) is commonly divided into four seasons, with each lasting about three months (but not exactly). In fact, winter is when Earth is closest to the Sun (and visa versa). The Earth’s tilted axis causes the seasons. Many folks assume the four seasons happen because the Earth is closer to the Sun in the summer (so it’s hotter) and then the Earth is farthest from the Sun in the winter (so it’s colder). ![]()
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