Summertime

[sebandbay]

During british summertime is the sun nearer or further away?

Discuss!

[burnhal]

Furthest away from the sun is some 94 and a bit million miles (aphelion). Closest (perihelion) is 91 and a bit million miles. Aphelion occurs late June/early July so the sun is actually at its furthest away during Britains summer. Although planets have eliptical orbits the numbers above show the earths is almost- but not quite- circular. So the main effect on whether it is hot or cold- and how long the sun appears in the sky- is determined mainly by the tilt of the earths axis.

[jake-the-peg]

Not much to discuss really.

If our temperature was due to how close we were to the sun it wouldn't be winter in the Southern Hemisphere whist it was summer in the Northern!

[sebandbay]

Can somebody please explain in idiots terms why it is hotter in the summer if the sun is further away?

[burnhal]

because in the summer, with the tilt of the earth, the sun is not far from directly overhead. In the winter we tilt away from the sun.

[jake-the-peg]

Also the angle makes the days longer so there's more time for the air masses to heat up

Does this page help?
http://csep10.phys.utk.edu/astr161/lect/time/s easons.html

[Loosehead]

When the sun is high in the sky it's rays are concentrated in a smaller area, hence it's hottest at the equator. The tilt of the earth's axis by 23.5 degrees gives the seasonal differences. Take UK for example today is pretty much midsummer that means the sun is as high as it's going to get and it's rays on us are as concentrated as they are going to get. Six months from now the opposite is true the sun at midday will be the lowest and therefore the rays will be spread out over a much larger area, hence winter weather. The proximity of the sun has very little varyance and very litte effect of temperature variation thoughout the year.