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Season
Introduction References & Edit History Related Topics
Images & Videos
Four-panel image showing the same ash tree in different seasons: budding in spring, full green leaves in summer, turning leaves in autumn, and bare with snow in winter. Diagram showing Earth's orbit around the Sun with labeled positions for the summer solstice, winter solstice, vernal equinox, and autumnal equinox, illustrating how Earth's tilt causes the seasons.
A large tree with leaves turning orange in fall.
Understand how the tilted rotation of Earth's axis gives more prominent full moon in winter than in summer
Close-up of pink cherry blossoms blooming on a tree branch against a blue sky with clouds, illustrating early spring caused by climate change.
How Earth's orbit and tilt create seasons
sunlight strikes parts of Earth differently Diagram showing Mars's orbit around the Sun with four positions illustrating its axial tilt of 24.9 degrees and the resulting Martian seasons: northern winter and summer, northern spring and fall, and their southern hemisphere counterparts. The orbit highlights points nearest and farthest from the Sun, with arrows indicating the direction of revolution.
Three animated trees without leaves, covered in snow against a blue sky.
Quizzes
Iceland, Glacier lagoon (Jokulsarlon)
Winter Weather Words Quiz

Season: References & Edit History

Article Contributors

Primary Contributors

  • The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
    Encyclopaedia Britannica's editors oversee subject areas in which they have extensive knowledge, whether from years of experience gained by working on that content or via study for an advanced degree. They write new content and verify and edit content received from contributors.

Other Encyclopedia Britannica Contributors

Article History

Type Description Contributor Date
Article title updated for style. Nov 11, 2026
Add new Web site: PNAS - Do moral values change with the seasons? Aug 29, 2026
Add new Web site: Geosciences LibreTexts - Seasons. Mar 12, 2026
Add new Web site: National Center for Biotechnology Information - PubMed Central - WorldSeasons: a seasonal classification system interpolating biome classifications within the year for better temporal aggregation in climate science. Jan 08, 2026
Add new Web site: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration - Changing seasons. Nov 19, 2025
Add new Web site: Khan Academy - Seasons aren't dictated by closeness to sun. Oct 08, 2025
Add new Web site: American Meteorological Society - Sunlight and Seasons (PDF). Dec 27, 2024
Add new Web site: White Rose Research Online - The Seasons (PDF). May 31, 2024
Media added. Apr 18, 2024
Add new Web site: NOAA National Weather Service - Why Do We have Seasons? Dec 29, 2023
Media added. Aug 15, 2023
Add new Web site: OpenStax - The Seasons. May 11, 2023
Add new Web site: National Geographic - Season. Jan 18, 2021
Add new Web site: Live Science - The Four Seasons: Change Marks the Passing of a Year. Nov 08, 2019
Add new Web site: Easy Science for Kids - Four Seasons. Dec 21, 2016
Added video about the full Moon in winter. Nov 24, 2015
Video depicting the role of Earth's orbit and axis on the planet's seasons added. Nov 10, 2011
Add new Web site: NeoK12 - Educational Videos and Games for School Kids - Season. Nov 03, 2011
Add new Web site: Quatr.us - Seasons. Jun 06, 2011
Media added. Sep 07, 2010
Added diagram showing position of Earth and Sun during each season. Jul 23, 2010
Changed dates of winter solstice. Jul 23, 2010
Added new Web site: British Broadcasting Corporation - The Seasons. Feb 05, 2009
Added new Web site: How Stuff Works - Science - What Causes The Seasons? Dec 24, 2008
Added new Web site: Office of Naval Research - Observing the Sky: Motion of the Earth - Seasons. May 19, 2008
Added new Web site: NASA�s KSNN - Why are There Seasons? May 12, 2008
Article added to new online database. Jul 20, 1998
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