![]() ![]() Although many people believe that the lengths of the astronomical seasons are the same, this proves not to be the case. Since their beginnings and ends are strictly defined by the arrival of the Sun at the equinoxes and the solstices in our sky, our astronomical seasons have durations of specific lengths. WHY THE LENGTHS OF THE SEASONS ARE NOT EQUAL Be- cause these terms eliminate the traditional ambiguity, it has become preferable in astronomical circles to use them when referring to the equinoxes and solstices. This is why we increasingly see the less traditional (and slightly less recognizable) terms: March Equinox, June Solstice, September Equinox and December Solstice. It means that astronomers in the Southern Hemisphere experience the traditional Summer Solstice at the start of their "climatic" Winter! Unfortunately this traditional naming convention creates an ambiguity. ![]() ![]() However, the "astronomical" seasons, as well as their respective equinoxes and solstices, have traditionally always been named for the "climatic" seasons of the Northern Hemisphere, (no doubt because roughly 90% of Earth's population lives there.) Thus, the Summer Solstice, for instance, is the solstice in June that marks the start of the Northern Hemisphere's summer. ![]() For example, climatically-speaking, when it is Summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it is Winter in the Southern Hemisphere. Most school children know that the climatic seasons of the Northern and Southern Hemispheres are the reverse of each other's. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |