summer
Definition
Summer is the warmest season of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. It is also the season with the most daylight hours. Summer solstice is the day with the most daylight hours. This occurs around June 21st in the Northern Hemisphere.
The summer season is caused by the tilt of the Earth's axis. The Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees. During the summer, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun. This means that the Northern Hemisphere receives more sunlight than the Southern Hemisphere.
The summer season is important for many plants and animals. Plants need sunlight to grow. Animals need sunlight to warm up. The summer season is also a time for many animals to reproduce.
How can the word be used?
The summer weather was hot and humid.
Different forms of the word
Noun: summer.
Adjective: summery.
Verb: to summer.
Etymology
The word "summer" comes from the Old English word "sumor", which means "season of warmth and growth". It was first used in English in the 8th century.
The word "summery" means that something is characteristic of summer.
The word "to summer" means to spend the summer in a particular place.
Question
What seasons come before and after summer?
AQA Science Exam Question and Answer
Question:
Explain the science behind the changing seasons, focusing on the factors responsible for the occurrence of summer. Describe how Earth's axial tilt and its orbital path around the Sun contribute to the phenomenon of summer.
Answer:
Summer, one of the four seasons, is a result of Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. The axial tilt causes varying amounts of sunlight to fall on different parts of the planet throughout the year. During summer, the hemisphere tilted towards the Sun experiences more direct sunlight and longer daylight hours.
Earth's orbit around the Sun is not a perfect circle but an ellipse, with the Sun slightly offset from the centre (focus) of the orbit. As a result, Earth moves slightly faster in its orbit when it's closer to the Sun (perihelion) and slower when farther away (aphelion). During summer, the hemisphere experiencing summer is not only tilted towards the Sun but also closer to it, intensifying the amount of solar energy received.
This combination of axial tilt and orbital factors leads to increased solar radiation during summer, resulting in warmer temperatures and longer days. The science behind changing seasons highlights the dynamic interplay between Earth's axial characteristics and its orbital path around the Sun, elucidating the mechanisms that govern the planet's climate and its cycle of seasons.