How Earth’s Movements Influence Weather and Climate
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: Key Concepts
1. What are the two primary types of Earth's movement mentioned in the CBSE syllabus?
The two primary movements of the Earth are rotation and revolution. Rotation is the spinning of the Earth on its own axis, an imaginary line passing through its poles. Revolution is the Earth's elliptical journey around the Sun. Both movements happen simultaneously and are fundamental to understanding day, night, and seasons.
2. How does the Earth's rotation cause the cycle of day and night?
The Earth's rotation on its axis is the direct cause of day and night. As the Earth spins, only one half of the planet can face the Sun at any given time. The side facing the Sun receives light and experiences day, while the side facing away is in shadow and experiences night. It takes approximately 24 hours to complete one full rotation, creating a consistent daily cycle.
3. What is the key difference between the Earth's rotation and its revolution?
The key difference lies in what the Earth is moving in relation to.
- Rotation is the Earth spinning on its own internal axis, which takes about 24 hours and causes day and night.
- Revolution is the Earth orbiting a separate celestial body, the Sun, which takes approximately 365.25 days and, combined with its axial tilt, causes the seasons.
4. Why do we experience different seasons like summer and winter?
We experience different seasons primarily because the Earth's axis is tilted at an angle of about 23.5 degrees relative to its orbital plane. As the Earth revolves around the Sun, this tilt causes different parts of the planet to receive more direct sunlight. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences summer, while the Southern Hemisphere experiences winter. The situation reverses six months later.
5. What are the major effects of the Earth's revolution around the Sun?
The Earth's revolution has several significant effects on our planet. The most important ones include:
- The cycle of seasons: The combination of revolution and the Earth's axial tilt creates summer, autumn, winter, and spring.
- Varying length of day and night: As the Earth orbits the Sun, the tilt causes the length of daylight to change throughout the year, except at the equator.
- The concept of a year: One full revolution defines the length of a year, which is approximately 365.25 days. The extra quarter day is accounted for by adding a leap day every four years.
6. If the Earth's axis were not tilted, how would our seasons and weather be different?
If the Earth had no axial tilt (a tilt of 0 degrees), there would be no distinct seasons as we know them. The Sun's rays would always strike the equator directly, and the poles at a shallow angle. Consequently:
- The equator would be perpetually hot.
- The poles would be perpetually cold.
- The length of day and night would be nearly 12 hours each, every day of the year, all over the world.
- Weather patterns would be far more static and tied to latitude, without the seasonal variations we currently experience.
7. Why isn't the distance from the Sun the main reason for the seasons?
This is a common misconception. While the Earth's orbit is an ellipse, meaning its distance from the Sun varies slightly, this change is not the primary cause of the seasons. In fact, the Earth is closest to the Sun (perihelion) in early January, which is winter for the Northern Hemisphere. The true cause of the seasons is the axial tilt, which determines the angle and intensity of sunlight a hemisphere receives, not its distance from the Sun.
8. What would happen to the weather and oceans if the Earth suddenly stopped rotating?
If the Earth's rotation were to stop, the consequences would be catastrophic. The atmosphere would continue to move at the Earth's original rotational speed (over 1,600 km/h at the equator), creating hyper-hurricanes that would scour the surface. The momentum of the oceans would cause unimaginably massive tsunamis. Furthermore, one side of the Earth would face the Sun for six months, leading to extreme heat, while the other side would freeze in a six-month-long night, making the planet uninhabitable.
