It’s true that Earth’s distance from the Sun varies throughout the year due to our planet’s elliptical orbit. However, the difference in distance isn’t the primary reason for seasonal temperature changes. While the Earth is at its farthest point from the sun in July, the difference in distance is relatively small, about 3%. The Earth’s orbit is nearly circular.
The main driver of our seasons is the Earth’s axial tilt. The Earth is tilted on its axis by approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive more direct sunlight at different times of the year.
In the Northern Hemisphere summer (around July), the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. This means the sun’s rays hit the Northern Hemisphere more directly, concentrating the solar energy and leading to warmer temperatures. The Southern Hemisphere, conversely, is tilted away from the sun, receiving less direct sunlight and experiencing winter.
While the Earth-Sun distance plays a minor role, it’s the angle of sunlight and the length of daylight hours caused by Earth’s tilt that have the most significant impact on temperature.
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