When do the four seasons begin

However, when it comes to defining the beginning and the end of seasons, not all countries adopt a universal standard. You'll find Northern and Southern Hemisphere nuances, as well as regional and national differences. They follow the meteorological method instead of the astronomical method adopted in North American and Europe - based on surface air temperatures. Last but not least, a few tropical countries adopted two seasons: the monsoon, wet or rainy season, and the dry season.

In conclusion, only North America and Europe set a Universal Time UT for the start and end of their four seasons, even if it has occasionally been realigned in leap years. The best fall quotes of all time. Major oil spill threatens California natural sanctuaries. How to keep beaches clean days a year. What is the current temperature?

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There are no official definitions of the duration of spring, summer, autumn and winter Some meteorologists adopt a convention, for the purpose of presenting statistics, of grouping the twelve months of the year into four three-month seasons, for example March, April and May being taken as Spring.

Since the seasons vary in length, the start date of a new season can fall on different days each year. This year, astronomical spring began on 20 March and ended on 21 June For upcoming years, the dates for astronomical spring will be:.

Meteorological seasons are instead based on the annual temperature cycle and measure the meteorological state, as well as coinciding with the calendar to determine a clear transition between the seasons.

The Earth's axis is slightly tilted in relation to its orbit around the Sun. This is why we have seasons. In most cultures, including all western countries, the year is commonly divided into four seasons:.

Since the year has 12 months , each season lasts about three months. However, the dates when the seasons begin and end vary depending on whom you ask. Two methods are most commonly used to define the dates of the seasons: the astronomical definition and the meteorological definition.

The astronomical definition uses the dates of equinoxes and solstices to mark the beginning and end of the seasons:.