Seasons Orbit

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Our seasons also influence how much solar radiation strikes a square meter of ground in a given place on the planet's surface at a given time of year. The Sun is "higher in the sky" in the summer and "lower in the sky" in winter. Thus basic planetary heating patterns change seasonally throughout the year, influencing climate. In the interactive below, click on the (Northern Hemisphere) "Summer" and "Winter" buttons and check out the "View from Sun" to get a sense of the change in the solar radiation received at a given location on Earth from season to season.