Here's how it works:
1. Earth's Tilt: Our planet is tilted on its axis at about 23.5 degrees. This tilt causes different parts of the Earth to receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year.
2. Summer Solstice: When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences summer. The days are longer, and the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a more direct angle, resulting in warmer temperatures. This is the summer solstice, usually around June 21st.
3. Winter Solstice: When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the Sun, it experiences winter. The days are shorter, and the Sun's rays hit the Earth at a less direct angle, leading to colder temperatures. This is the winter solstice, usually around December 21st.
4. Equinoxes: There are two equinoxes in a year: the spring equinox (around March 20th) and the autumn equinox (around September 22nd). These are the times when the Sun's rays hit the Earth directly at the equator. The days and nights are roughly equal in length.
Therefore, the Earth's tilt and orbit are responsible for the four seasons that most countries experience.
Countries near the equator experience two seasons:
* Wet Season (rainy season): This is caused by the convergence of air masses from the tropics, bringing heavy rainfall.
* Dry Season: This is the time when the air masses diverge, resulting in less rainfall and drier weather.
However, it's important to note that even near the equator, there can be subtle variations in temperature and other weather patterns throughout the year, making it inaccurate to say these regions experience only two distinct seasons.