Changes

==Etymology==

==Etymology==

[http://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] sesoun, from Anglo-French seison  [[natural]] season, appropriate [[time]], from [[Latin]] sation-, satio [[action]] of sowing, from serere to sow

[https://nordan.daynal.org/wiki/index.php?title=English#ca._1100-1500_.09THE_MIDDLE_ENGLISH_PERIOD Middle English] sesoun, from Anglo-French seison  [[natural]] season, appropriate [[time]], from [[Latin]] sation-, satio [[action]] of sowing, from serere to sow

*Date: [http://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]

*Date: [https://www.wikipedia.org/wiki/14th_Century 14th century]

==Definitions==

==Definitions==

*1 a : a [[time]] characterized by a particular circumstance or feature <in a season of [[religious]] [[awakening]] — F. A. Christie>  

*1 a : a [[time]] characterized by a particular circumstance or feature <in a season of [[religious]] [[awakening]] — F. A. Christie>  

*5 : the schedule of official [[games]] played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season <got through the season undefeated>

*5 : the schedule of official [[games]] played or to be played by a sports team during a playing season <got through the season undefeated>

*6 : off-season <closed for the season>

*6 : off-season <closed for the season>

==Description==

==Description==

A '''season''' is a division of the year, marked by [[changes]] in [[weather]], [[ecology]], and hours of [[Light|daylight]].

A '''season''' is a division of the year, marked by [[changes]] in [[weather]], [[ecology]], and hours of [[Light|daylight]].

Seasons result from the yearly [[revolution]] of the [[Earth]] around the [[Sun]] and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt tilt of the Earth's axis] [[relative]] to the [[plane]] of [[revolution]]. In temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the [[intensity]] of [[Light|sunlight]] that reaches the Earth's [[surface]], variations of which may cause [[animals]] to go into [[hibernation]] or to [[migrate]], and plants to be dormant.

Seasons result from the yearly [[revolution]] of the [[Earth]] around the [[Sun]] and the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt tilt of the Earth's axis] [[relative]] to the [[plane]] of [[revolution]]. In temperate and polar regions, the seasons are marked by changes in the [[intensity]] of [[Light|sunlight]] that reaches the Earth's [[surface]], variations of which may cause [[animals]] to go into [[hibernation]] or to [[migrate]], and plants to be dormant.

During May, June and July, the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_hemisphere northern hemisphere] is [[exposed]] to more direct sunlight because the hemisphere faces the [[sun]]. The same is true of the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_hemisphere southern hemisphere] in November, December and January. It is the tilt of the Earth that [[causes]] the Sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months which increases the solar flux. However, due to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_lag seasonal lag], June, July and August are the hottest months in the northern hemisphere and December, January and February are the hottest months in the southern hemisphere.

During May, June and July, the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Northern_hemisphere northern hemisphere] is [[exposed]] to more direct sunlight because the hemisphere faces the [[sun]]. The same is true of the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_hemisphere southern hemisphere] in November, December and January. It is the tilt of the Earth that [[causes]] the Sun to be higher in the sky during the summer months which increases the solar flux. However, due to [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasonal_lag seasonal lag], June, July and August are the hottest months in the northern hemisphere and December, January and February are the hottest months in the southern hemisphere.

In [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate temperate] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subpolar_climate subpolar regions] generally four [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar calendar] based seasons are recognized: [[spring]] (adj. vernal), [[summer]] (adj. estival), [[autumn]] (adj. autumnal), and [[winter]] (adj. hibernal). However, [[ecologists]] in Europe and Australia are increasingly using a six season [[model]] for temperate climate regions that includes pre-spring (adj. prevernal) and late summer (adj. seritonal) as distinct seasons along with the [[traditional]] four.

In [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temperate temperate] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subpolar_climate subpolar regions] generally four [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calendar calendar] based seasons are recognized: [[spring]] (adj. vernal), [[summer]] (adj. estival), [[autumn]] (adj. autumnal), and [[winter]] (adj. hibernal). However, [[ecologists]] in Europe and Australia are increasingly using a six season [[model]] for temperate climate regions that includes pre-spring (adj. prevernal) and late summer (adj. seritonal) as distinct seasons along with the [[traditional]] four.

In some [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropics tropical] and [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical subtropical] regions it is more common to [[speak]] of the rainy (or wet, or [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon monsoon]) season versus the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_season dry season], because the amount of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_(meteorology) precipitation] may vary more dramatically than the average temperature. For example, in Nicaragua, the dry season is called Summer (Oct to May) and the rainy season is called Winter (Apr to Nov) even though it is located in the northern hemisphere.

In some [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tropics tropical] and [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Subtropical subtropical] regions it is more common to [[speak]] of the rainy (or wet, or [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monsoon monsoon]) season versus the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dry_season dry season], because the amount of [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Precipitation_(meteorology) precipitation] may vary more dramatically than the average temperature. For example, in Nicaragua, the dry season is called Summer (Oct to May) and the rainy season is called Winter (Apr to Nov) even though it is located in the northern hemisphere.

In other tropical areas a three-way division into hot, rainy and cool season is used.

In other tropical areas a three-way division into hot, rainy and cool season is used.

In some parts of the world, special "seasons" are loosely defined based upon important [[events]] such as a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane hurricane season], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado tornado] season or a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire wildfire] season.

In some parts of the world, special "seasons" are loosely defined based upon important [[events]] such as a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane hurricane season], [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado tornado] season or a [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildfire wildfire] season.

Chinese seasons are traditionally based on 24 periods known as [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_terms solar terms], and begin at the midpoint of solstices and equinoxes.[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasons]

Chinese seasons are traditionally based on 24 periods known as [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Solar_terms solar terms], and begin at the midpoint of solstices and equinoxes.[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seasons]

[[Category: Earth Science]]

[[Category: Earth Science]]