Introduction to the Movement of Earth and Weather
Weather, seasons, and climate are caused by the Earth's rotation around the Sun, as well as the tilt of the Earth's axis. Weather patterns are caused by the Sun, and the long-term average of weather patterns produces climatic zones all across the Earth. The average regional climates combine to form the Earth's climate. Changes in the Earth's revolution or axial tilt have an influence on weather patterns.
Definition of Weather and Climate
In short, weather is the everyday atmospheric conditions. Weather comprises the day's overall atmospheric activity, which can range from hot and sunny to cold and gloomy, and from fog to rain, and then rain to snow.
Climate refers to average weather patterns and conditions across time (i.e, 30 years or more). Climate contains both ordinary and severe weather conditions.
Two Major Movements of Earth
Revolution: Like all other planets, earth revolves around the sun. The term "revolution" refers to the Earth's movement around the Sun. In an elliptical orbit (i.e, in an oval shape), the Earth revolves from west to east. As a result, the distance between the Earth and the Sun changes. One year is required for the Earth's revolution around the Sun.
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Rotation: The Earth, in addition to revolving around the Sun, also revolves around itself. Rotation refers to the spinning of the Earth around itself. The Earth spins clockwise from west to east.
It completes one revolution in 24 hours, or one day. When we say that the Earth rotates or spins about itself, we are referring to its rotation on its axis. The axis is an imaginary line around which the world revolves.
The Axial Tilt of the Earth
The Earth's axis, which is an imaginary line, forms a 66 ½° angle with its orbital plane. The orbital plane is the horizontal plane on which the orbit is built. This tilt of the Earth's axis is responsible for seasonal changes on Earth and explains why the southern hemisphere (half of a sphere is referred to as a hemisphere) enjoys summer while the northern hemisphere experiences winter.
This tilt also explains why the hours of day and night differ as one moves away from the equator (it is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into northern and southern hemispheres and is traced around the globe equally far from both poles).
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What is the Most Likely Cause of the Weather's Change and Variation?
As the Earth has two hemispheres. The type of weather at a given location is determined by the hemisphere's position in relation to the Sun. The northern hemisphere is exposed to more sunshine throughout the months of May, June, and July; hence there are summers in the northern hemisphere during this time of year, whilst there are winters in the southern hemisphere. The weather then changes throughout the months of November, December, and January.
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As a result, we may claim that the changing of seasons is caused by the Earth's revolution around the Sun. The weather of a location is determined by the amount of heat received from the Sun. The Earth's axis is not straight, but rather inclined. As a result, various parts of the globe are tilted toward the Sun at different periods. As a result, the seasons change.
Solved Questions
How does the Earth’s rotation affect weather?
Ans: Due to rotation of Earth, various parts of it pass in front of the Sun. The part that faces the Sun receives light, while the opposite part that faces away from the Sun does not receive sunlight and experiences night. This is one of the major effects of rotation of the Earth. Light falls on Earth from dawn to sunset, and we call it day. The light phase is referred to as the day, while the dark period is referred to as the night.
Why do we have seasons?
Ans: As the Earth rotates on its axis, creating night and day, it also travels in an elliptical orbit around the Sun. The spin axis of the Earth is tilted with regard to its orbital plane. This is what causes the seasons to change. Summer is when the Earth's axis points towards the Sun in that hemisphere. Winter is to be expected when the Earth's axis is tilted away from the Sun.
Is the Earth rotating in a clockwise direction?
Ans: Except for Venus and Uranus, all of the planets in our solar system rotate from west to east, which looks counterclockwise when viewed from above the North Pole. Hence, we can say that the earth rotates counterclockwise.
Fun Facts
People imagine Earth as a massive sphere. However, its shape is more like a pressed ball that bulges out at the equator exactly between the North and South Poles.
Summary
This article contains the concepts about the Earth’s various movements like rotation and revolution of the Earth. It also explains the reason behind the formation of day and night and different types of season on Earth. It also contains information about how the weather of the Earth got affected by the rotation of THE Earth.
Learning By Doing
Take a globe which is available in the market and put a table lamp facing one side of the globe. After switching on the lamp, observe whether the full part of the globe receives the light or not.
FAQs on Movement of Earth and Weather
1. What are the two main types of Earth's movement as explained in EVS?
The Earth has two primary movements that are fundamental concepts in EVS and geography. These are:
- Rotation: This is the spinning of the Earth on its own axis. One full rotation takes approximately 24 hours and is the reason we have day and night.
- Revolution: This is the movement of the Earth in a fixed, elliptical path (orbit) around the Sun. One full revolution takes about 365.25 days, which defines our year and is the primary cause of the changing seasons.
2. What is the main difference between the Earth's rotation and revolution?
The main difference between rotation and revolution lies in what the Earth is moving in relation to. Rotation is the Earth spinning on its internal axis, causing the cycle of day and night. In contrast, revolution is the Earth's external journey or orbit around another celestial body, the Sun, which causes the cycle of seasons over a year. Think of a spinning top (rotation) that is also moving across a table (revolution).
3. How does the Earth's rotation on its axis cause day and night?
The Earth's rotation is the reason we experience day and night. As the Earth spins on its axis, only one side can face the Sun at any given time. The side facing the Sun receives light and heat, experiencing day. The opposite side, facing away from the Sun, is in shadow and experiences night. This continuous spinning ensures a regular cycle of daylight and darkness every 24 hours.
4. How does the Earth's revolution, combined with its tilt, cause seasons?
Seasons are not caused by the Earth being closer or farther from the Sun. Instead, they are a result of the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt combined with its revolution around the Sun. As the Earth orbits the Sun, this tilt means different parts of the planet receive the Sun's direct rays. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences summer, while the Southern Hemisphere, tilted away, has winter. The reverse happens six months later.
5. In what ways does the Earth's movement directly affect our weather?
The Earth's movements are the primary drivers of weather and climate.
- Revolution and Tilt: This combination determines the amount of solar energy a region receives, causing seasonal temperature changes, from hot summers to cold winters.
- Rotation: The spinning of the Earth creates the Coriolis effect, which deflects the path of large-scale wind and ocean currents. This is why hurricanes spin in different directions in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres.
6. If the Earth is spinning so fast, why don't we feel it move?
We don't feel the Earth's spin for the same reason you don't feel the speed of a car or an aeroplane moving at a constant velocity. Everything on Earth, including the atmosphere, oceans, and us, is moving along with the planet at the same constant speed. Since there is no sudden acceleration or deceleration, and everything is moving together, we have no frame of reference to feel the motion.
7. What would happen to weather on Earth if it stopped rotating?
If the Earth stopped rotating, the impact on weather would be catastrophic. The concept of a 24-hour day would vanish. One side of the Earth would face the Sun for six months, leading to extreme heat and desert-like conditions. The other side would face six months of darkness and freezing cold. The Coriolis effect would disappear, completely altering wind patterns and ocean currents, and likely causing extreme and unpredictable weather systems along the terminator line (the border between day and night).
8. What is the Coriolis effect and how is it related to the Earth's rotation?
The Coriolis effect is an apparent force caused by the Earth's rotation. Because the Earth is a spinning sphere, any object moving over its surface (like wind or water) gets deflected from a straight path. In the Northern Hemisphere, moving objects are deflected to the right, and in the Southern Hemisphere, they are deflected to the left. This effect is crucial for the formation of large-scale weather patterns, including the direction that cyclones and major wind systems spin.
