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tilting Earth

The Earth is tilted 23.5 degrees on its axis. As it rotates on its axis, different regions on Earth are tilted both towards and away from the sun. This causes the sun's light and energy to hit the different regions of the Earth at different angles throughout the course of one orbit, or one full year. This is what creates the differences in the seasons and the annual warming and cooling cycles of the Earth's Northern and Southern Hemispheres.

If the Earth's axis were parallel to the Sun and not tilted, the sun would remain positioned exactly halfway between the North and South Poles, and there would be no seasonal changes on Earth. Each area on Earth would maintain the same relative climate and same amount of daylight throughout the entire year. The reason our planet maintains its relatively warm, life-sustaining temperatures and climates is because there is a very delicate balance within its atmosphere, oceans and solid Earth.

Earth has a built-in, naturally-occurring "force field" around it that creates and helps maintain viable living conditions for its plant and animal inhabitants. The atmosphere contains greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide to keep the Earth warm, and an ozone layer to protect the Earth from harmful radiation.

Wind and ocean currents also help distribute this heat around the globe, all within the Earth's protective atmosphere. The Earth is unique in its ability to create and maintain sustainable living conditions because all of its systems and influences are connected to each other.