Why does the Earth’s temperature change?
We know the Earth’s circles around the sun at an angle of 23.4 degrees. This is why the angle at which sunlight hits the Earth’s surface gradually changes over the course of a year. This is what causes the seasons to change. Let’s look at this process in a little more detail.
The sun’s height in the sky and where it rises and sets changes, depending on the season. On the day of an autumnal equinox or a spring equinox, the sun rises in the true east and sets in the true west. Daytime and nighttime are exactly the same length on these days. On the day of a summer solstice in the northern hemisphere, the sun is at its highest in the sky and daytime is the longest. This is why summers are hot. On the day of a winter solstice, the sun is at its lowest in the sky and daytime is the shortest. This is why winters are cold.
Besides the seasons, temperatures change depending on what latitude you are at. Near the equator, the sun shines directly overhead, making temperatures higher. At higher latitudes, the sun shines at an angle, so the temperature is lower. The Earth can be divided into tropical, temperate, and polar climate zones, depending on the latitude.
