Chilean Earthquake May Have Shifted The Earth's Axis

[john9blue]

Yeah it's the tilt. But I thought that when one hemi was tilted away for half the year, it received less sunlight as it was rotating, and that's why it was colder. I didn't think the angle mattered... I guess it does though...

[sully800]

Yeah it's the tilt. But I thought that when one hemi was tilted away for half the year, it received less sunlight as it was rotating, and that's why it was colder. I didn't think the angle mattered... I guess it does though...

Both factors matter a lot. When you tilt toward the sun you get longer days AND more direct radiation.

[notyou2]

Er... it has more to do with the angle radiation from the sun hits the earth. So the tilt of the earth is the most important factor. For example, by your logic, it would get very warm at the poles when the sun is constantly shining, but it really doesn't.

Neo is correct, It's the angle that the rays strike the earth at.

[Timminz]

Everyone is correct.

The semantic debate over distance from the sun was entirely superfluous.

I'm both pleased, and surprised, yet slightly disconcerted that so many people seem to agree on something.

[sully800]

Well, this IS all going on the assumption that the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around. Anyone want to debate the other side?

[jsholty4690]

Well, this IS all going on the assumption that the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around. Anyone want to debate the other side?

Y'all are heritics!! And ye will burn in the eternal hell fires for all of eternity for your blaspheming. Where's the Spanish Inquistion when you need it?

[PLAYER57832]

At least the Earth is slowly moving away from the Sun, perhaps increasing the duration and length of other times.


--Andy

So if the earth is moving away from the sun, that means we are in a global cool down not a global warming scenario right??

Which is why we in the northern hemisphere have winter when we are closer to the sun, instead of further away.

That's a joke, right? I mean, we are further from the sun in the winter, but that's not why it's colder.

Actually, the northern hemisphere has winter when we are closer to the sun, not further away. The southern hemisphere has winter when it is further away. Its the tilt of the Earth that determines the season.

[PLAYER57832]

Well, I think we're closest to the sun in about March of every year though I don't know why I remember that. The tilt of the axis (and consequently length of days) is what determines the seasons as you alluded.

Scrap that - March is the equinox but only mid distance for earth-sun.

The earth is closest to the sun in December and furthest from the sun in June.

Since you are in the southern hemisphere, yes.

[sully800]

Well, I think we're closest to the sun in about March of every year though I don't know why I remember that. The tilt of the axis (and consequently length of days) is what determines the seasons as you alluded.

Scrap that - March is the equinox but only mid distance for earth-sun.

The earth is closest to the sun in December and furthest from the sun in June.

Since you are in the southern hemisphere, yes.

I'm not quite sure what that means since
a) I'm in the northern hemisphere and
b) months don't depend on hemispheres like the seasons do. The entire earth has December at the same time which is when the earth is closest to the sun (as you originally said)

[john9blue]

He means the whole planet, not just one hemisphere lol.

[jonesthecurl]

Well, this IS all going on the assumption that the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around. Anyone want to debate the other side?

Y'all are heritics!! And ye will burn in the eternal hell fires for all of eternity for your blaspheming. Where's the Spanish Inquistion when you need it?

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
But the eyes in his head
See the world spinning 'round

[Genghis Khant]

Maybe this new Taiwan earthquake will help put us back on course.

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE62306220100304

[Timminz]

At least the Earth is slowly moving away from the Sun, perhaps increasing the duration and length of other times.


--Andy

So if the earth is moving away from the sun, that means we are in a global cool down not a global warming scenario right??

Which is why we in the northern hemisphere have winter when we are closer to the sun, instead of further away.

That's a joke, right? I mean, we are further from the sun in the winter, but that's not why it's colder.

Actually, the northern hemisphere has winter when we are closer to the sun, not further away. The southern hemisphere has winter when it is further away. Its the tilt of the Earth that determines the season.

Right. Let me try to clarify what I was saying, again.

During our (northerners) summer, we are closer to the sun than the southern hemisphere is at that same time (due to the tilt, which causes seasons, and all that). During our winter, we are farther from the sun than the southerners are (again, due to the tilt), yet we are closer to the sun than we were during the summer (due to the non-circular orbit).

In summary, in December the northern hemisphere is further, relative to the southern hemisphere, yet closer, relative to the distance in June.

[jsholty4690]

Well, this IS all going on the assumption that the earth goes around the sun and not the other way around. Anyone want to debate the other side?

Y'all are heritics!! And ye will burn in the eternal hell fires for all of eternity for your blaspheming. Where's the Spanish Inquistion when you need it?

The fool on the hill
Sees the sun going down
But the eyes in his head
See the world spinning 'round

We're all dooooooomed!! All the earthquakes are the signs that armageddon is upon us! Look at what all your short shorts and MTV has done. God's wrath shall be unmerciful!! Oh why didn't we listen to those stupid Mayans and prepare for this day. Woe is me, woe is everyone! 2012 is coming repent now or you will forever pay in eternal damnation.

[pearljamrox2]

I've always wondered if the southern hemisphere people can tell that their feet are actually above their heads, and that they are standing upside down on the bottom of the earth. The blood must really rush to their head, hanging around upside down like that.

[PLAYER57832]

Well, I think we're closest to the sun in about March of every year though I don't know why I remember that. The tilt of the axis (and consequently length of days) is what determines the seasons as you alluded.

Scrap that - March is the equinox but only mid distance for earth-sun.

The earth is closest to the sun in December and furthest from the sun in June.

Since you are in the southern hemisphere, yes.

I'm not quite sure what that means since
a) I'm in the northern hemisphere and
b) months don't depend on hemispheres like the seasons do. The entire earth has December at the same time which is when the earth is closest to the sun (as you originally said)

You are correct and I should know better than to post when I am tired.

for jay -- the earth is CLOSER to the sun in December, when it is winter in the northern hemisphere and it is summer in the southern hemisphere.

[PLAYER57832]

Right. Let me try to clarify what I was saying, again.

During our (northerners) summer, we are closer to the sun than the southern hemisphere is at that same time (due to the tilt, which causes seasons, and all that). During our winter, we are farther from the sun than the southerners are (again, due to the tilt), yet we are closer to the sun than we were during the summer (due to the non-circular orbit).

In summary, in December the northern hemisphere is further, relative to the southern hemisphere, yet closer, relative to the distance in June.

Well that disagrees with what I have been taught. I was taught that we are closer to the sun in the winter (make that December).. even with the tilt. The tilt is not enough to compensate for the distance differences in the elliptical orbit. However, the tilt affects the angle of sunlight/the amount of sunlight to hit us. So, even though we are closer in the winter, we get less heating sunlight .. ergo winter.

[Timminz]

Right. Let me try to clarify what I was saying, again.

During our (northerners) summer, we are closer to the sun than the southern hemisphere is at that same time (due to the tilt, which causes seasons, and all that). During our winter, we are farther from the sun than the southerners are (again, due to the tilt), yet we are closer to the sun than we were during the summer (due to the non-circular orbit).

In summary, in December the northern hemisphere is further, relative to the southern hemisphere, yet closer, relative to the distance in June.

Well that disagrees with what I have been taught. I was taught that we are closer to the sun in the winter (make that December).. even with the tilt. The tilt is not enough to compensate for the distance differences in the elliptical orbit. However, the tilt affects the angle of sunlight/the amount of sunlight to hit us. So, even though we are closer in the winter, we get less heating sunlight .. ergo winter.

Correct.

In the case of the closer in the summer/further in the winter, I'm only talking about the difference in distance from one hemisphere to the other. The closer of the hemispheres, is the one closest to summer, at any given time.

[PLAYER57832]

Right. Let me try to clarify what I was saying, again.

During our (northerners) summer, we are closer to the sun than the southern hemisphere is at that same time (due to the tilt, which causes seasons, and all that). During our winter, we are farther from the sun than the southerners are (again, due to the tilt), yet we are closer to the sun than we were during the summer (due to the non-circular orbit).

In summary, in December the northern hemisphere is further, relative to the southern hemisphere, yet closer, relative to the distance in June.

Well that disagrees with what I have been taught. I was taught that we are closer to the sun in the winter (make that December).. even with the tilt. The tilt is not enough to compensate for the distance differences in the elliptical orbit. However, the tilt affects the angle of sunlight/the amount of sunlight to hit us. So, even though we are closer in the winter, we get less heating sunlight .. ergo winter.

Correct. I had to double-check, though because I thought you were saying something different.

Here is a synopsis from Wikki answers.

The earth is at perihelion (its closest approach to the sun) in early January, a few days after the northern hemisphere's winter solstice. This is summer in the southern hemisphere. Aphelion, when earth is farthest from the sun, happens in early July, a few days after the summer solstice in the north. This is winter in the southern hemisphere.
We in the north can have a little trouble initially wrapping our brains around this, because it is natural for anyone to think that summer occurs when we are closest to the sun. This is true for our friends in the south, not for us. The seasons have much more to do with the tilt in the earth's axis than with proximity to the sun. That's why we northerners can experience winter at the time that the earth is actually closer to the sun.

(normally don't rust Wikki much, but on something as basic as this, they are accurate)

[jonesthecurl]

The daylight side that's in winter is closer to the sun than the night-time side that's in summer...

[sully800]

I've always wondered if the southern hemisphere people can tell that their feet are actually above their heads, and that they are standing upside down on the bottom of the earth. The blood must really rush to their head, hanging around upside down like that.

It is a strange sensation to have gravity pulling upward on your feet instead of pulling downward on your body. Also, the toilet water spins the opposite direction because they are upside down.

[Timminz]

The daylight side that's in winter is closer to the sun than the night-time side that's in summer...

Not necessarily.

[jonesthecurl]

The daylight side that's in winter is closer to the sun than the night-time side that's in summer...

Not necessarily.

Of course it is. That's why the night-time side is in shadow. Because it's on the other side of the planet than the daytime side. away from the sun.

[john9blue]

I've always wondered if the southern hemisphere people can tell that their feet are actually above their heads, and that they are standing upside down on the bottom of the earth. The blood must really rush to their head, hanging around upside down like that.

Oh man, it's horrible. Here's a picture I took when visiting Australia:



I threw up 17 times on that trip...

[sully800]

I actually saw some study about a person who made goggles that turned everything upside down. At first it was sickening and he could hardly function, but over time his mind got used to seeing the world upside down and he was able to resume his normal activities. Pretty strange to think about because that picture alone is hard to look at and see normally.