Earth tilt at 23.5 degrees
If you stick a pencil directly through the Earth at the point of rotation, these two points are the North and South poles.
Now if you twist your wrist at 23.5°, this is the Earth tilt.
It’s essential in seasonal patterns, climate and life on the planet.
Here’s how the Earth tilt works.
What causes seasonal patterns?
Because the Earth is tilted on its axis, it’s the main reason why we have seasons. As the Earth revolves around the sun, the hemisphere that’s tilted towards the sun receives most sunlight.
When it receives more sunlight, this is summer time. For the hemisphere that’s tilted away from the sun, it receives less sunlight and has shorter days.
As a result, it becomes colder and this is the winter season. At the North Pole, is possible to have 24-hour days in darkness because of the tilt of the Earth.
At the equator, it’s exposed to sunlight more often. This is why is much hotter at the equator year-round. Because it is hotter for longer periods of time, there is less difference between seasons.
Why is the north and south pole so cold?
At the equator, the sun hits the Earth directly. Whereas at the poles, the sun’s rays can barely touch it.
More specifically, it’s not because the equator is closer to the sun. But it’s because the sun is directly shining on the equator.
This is why we have the warmest ecosystems on Earth at the equator like tropical rain forests and deserts.
The north and south pole hardly receive any heat from the sun’s rays. This creates the coldest places on Earth like tundra and polar deserts.
The moon’s impact changed Earth tilt
Long ago, the moon collided with Earth. It was a glancing blow impact, and not a head-on collision.
Since then, the moon has been a close companion orbiting the Earth.
This giant impact had profound effects for Earth. For example, it tilted Earth on its axis promptly giving it seasons.
In tandem, they control tides, slow rotational speed and stabilize Earth from wobbling.
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