We know that the Earth's axis of rotation is 23 degrees. The Earth's axis of rotation is an imaginary line that runs through the center of the Earth and extends to its surface at two opposite points, the north and south poles. It is a crucial concept to understand the astronomical and climatic phenomena on our planet. Many people wonder what are the consequences of the tilt of the earth and how they affect this deviation from the axis of rotation.
For this reason, we are going to dedicate this article to telling you what the main ones are. consequences of the tilt of the earth and what effects it has on the climate.
What is the earth's axis of rotation
The first thing we have to clarify is the axis of Earth's rotation in order to fully understand what the consequences of the Earth's tilt are. The inclination of the Earth's axis is responsible for the seasons of the year and the difference between days and nights throughout the year. This inclination is not perpendicular to the plane of the Earth's orbit around the Sun, but rather it is tilted approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt is not fixed, but varies slightly over very long periods of time due to gravitational forces from the Moon, Sun, and other planets.
Why is the Earth's axis tilted? This is a question that has puzzled scientists for a long time, and the answer is not entirely definitive. It is believed that, in its early stages of formation, the Earth experienced impacts with other celestial bodies that could have influenced its axial orientation. In addition, internal factors, such as the uneven distribution of mass in the Earth's interior, may have contributed to the tilt of the axis.
The tilt of the axis is crucial for life on Earth. Without it, we would not have seasons, which would severely affect ecosystems and agriculture. Thanks to this inclination, we experience climate changes that allow for variations in temperatures and weather patterns in different regions of the planet. division of the planet into hemispheres also contributes to the diversity of climates we observe today. In addition, the terrestrial magnetic field It also plays an important role in protecting the Earth and its climates.
Consequences of the Earth's tilt
The tilt of the Earth's axis has several significant consequences that affect our planet and its climate in a remarkable way. These are some of the main consequences of this inclination:
- Seasons of the year: The tilt is responsible for the different seasons. As the Earth orbits the Sun, its axis points in different directions in space. During the summer solstice, one of the poles tilts toward the Sun, resulting in the longest day of the year in the corresponding hemisphere. Meanwhile, the other pole experiences the winter solstice with the shortest day of the year. These seasonal changes influence the amount of sunlight received in each hemisphere, directly affecting the climate, vegetation, and animal behavior. The variability of these factors is influenced by the earth rotation.
- Difference in length of days: The tilt is also responsible for the variation in the length of days and nights throughout the year. At the poles, during the solstices, there is a period of continuous days or polar nights, depending on the hemisphere. On the other hand, at the equinoxes, the length of day and night are almost equal everywhere on Earth. This is key to understanding the Aurora borealis in regions near the poles, which are influenced by the terrestrial magnetic field.
- Influence on ocean currents: The tilt affects ocean currents, which are currents of water that circulate through the oceans. These currents play a crucial role in redistributing heat on the planet. The axial tilt influences the formation and behavior of currents, which can have significant effects on regional and global climate, as well as on marine life. These dynamics are also related to the distance from Earth to Sun at different times of the year.
- Weather Patterns and Precipitation: The axial tilt also influences weather patterns and precipitation in different regions of the world. Changes in the amount of sunlight received and the distribution of heat across the Earth's surface due to tilt are determining factors in the formation of specific climates, from deserts to tropical rainforests and temperate zones. These weather patterns are vital to the terrestrial energy.
- Glaciation cycles: The tilt of the Earth's axis has been linked to cycles of glaciations and periods of global warming throughout geological history. Changes in tilt, along with other astronomical variables, can influence the amount of solar radiation reaching the Earth and, consequently, affect glacial cycles and the extent of ice sheets, as well as the climate in general. This phenomenon is also related to the temperature of other planets.
What would the climate be like if the earth's axis changed?
We are lucky because the climate would be very different without the tilt of the Earth's axis. If the Earth's axis were not tilted, we would have no seasons. We would receive the same amount of solar radiation every day of the year and we would have no seasons. Instead, if the axis is perfectly horizontal, what would happen is that we would have six months in the dark and six months in full sun. Both are extreme conditions. Fortunately, we are in the middle.
At some point, when the Earth's axis is tilted toward the sun, we receive more radiation more vertically, and we call this summer. Interestingly, in the Northern Hemisphere, what we call summer is when we are farthest from the sun. The Earth's movement around the sun forms an ellipse, and when we are farther away, it coincides with the fact that it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. This phenomenon is crucial to understanding the seasonal variations that we experience.
The axes are not static
The axes also change over time. For example, the eccentricity of the ellipse that revolves the Earth around the sun changes every 100-400.000 years, which exceeds human life (80-90 years old). The angle also changes; it can range from 21,5 to 24,5 degrees. Depending on the tilt, the sun's rays will hit it more directly or indirectly. Therefore, there won't be much difference between seasons; the closer to 21 degrees, or as the tilt approaches 24 degrees, the contrast between seasons becomes more pronounced.
Right now we are at 23,5, so the seasons right now are very contrasting: very hot in summer and very cold in winter. This change every 40.000 years is completely beyond the reach of human activities.
