In their recent episode of The Sound of Science on WNIJ, Jasmine and Chrissy from NIU STEAM discussed the significance of the Vernal Equinox in determining the arrival of Spring. Despite what Puxatawny Phil sees or not, astronomically, the Earth’s position in space within its orbit around the Sun plays a crucial role in determining the seasons.
The hosts explained that it is the Earth’s tilt at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees that causes different hemispheres to experience different seasons. When a hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun, it experiences Summer, and when tilted away, it experiences Winter. This tilt also affects the amount of daylight we see on a given day.
On March 20th this year, the Vernal Equinox will occur, marking the official start of Spring. This equinox is when the Earth’s axis is neither tilted towards nor away from the Sun, resulting in approximately equal amounts of daylight and nighttime. The effects of the tilt will lead to a warming trend in the Northern hemisphere, signaling the transition to Summer.
While meteorologically speaking, Spring may vary depending on climate and regional geography, globally, the Vernal Equinox marks its arrival. Jasmine and Chrissy sign off by reminding listeners to tune in to The Sound of Science on WNIJ for more interesting facts and new learnings every day.
