If the earth's axis was tilted at 30 degrees instead of 23 1/2 degrees, how would that effect the seasons, or lengths of days, winds, etc. Or, would it have any effect at all?
It would have an effect. I will be happy to critique your thinking.
Would it mean that the seasons of Winter and Summer would be longer and more extreme? As to how it might have an effect on the deflection of winds, I just can't figure that one out yet specifically. Length of days would not be effected, I think. If rotation speed was changed, the lengths of days would be longer. But if the axis were tilted to approximately 30 degrees, that would not seem to have an impact on the number of hours in our day. Thank you for be willing to help me think through this.
Do you think the seasons will be both longer and more extreme?
I agree that it would not seem to impact the hours in a day (That would relate to the speed of rotation rather than the inclination.), but it would influence the number of daylight hours.
However, since this is not my area of expertise, I searched Google under the key words "earth axis tilt change effect" to get these possible sources:
http://www.livescience.com/environment/050330_earth_tilt.html
http://www.dnr.mo.gov/energy/cc/cc7.htm
http://www.newton.dep.anl.gov/askasci/env99/env212.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Axial_tilt
http://www.seed.slb.com/en/scictr/watch/climate_change/causes_other.htm
I hope this helps a little more. Thanks for asking.
I believe that life could adapt to these changes. Like said earlier the seasons would almost have to be more extreme. The tilt would change the amount of day light hours that each season brings with itself.
During the summer solstice we have about 16 hours of daylight of the earths tilt would change the amount of time that we see light would also go up changing the earths temp.
If the Earth's axis was tilted at 30 degrees instead of the current tilt of 23.5 degrees, it would indeed have a significant impact on various aspects such as seasons, lengths of days, and winds. Here's how you can understand the effects:
1. Seasons: The tilt of the Earth's axis is the primary reason for the changing seasons. Currently, as the Earth orbits the Sun, different parts of the planet receive varying amounts of sunlight throughout the year. This results in the different seasons we experience. With a greater tilt of 30 degrees, the difference in sunlight received by different regions would become even more pronounced. As a result, the seasonal variations would be more extreme, leading to potentially harsher winters and hotter summers.
2. Lengths of Days: The tilt of the Earth's axis affects the duration of daylight hours during each day. During summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the North Pole is tilted towards the Sun, causing longer days. Conversely, during winter, the North Pole is tilted away, leading to shorter days. A greater tilt of 30 degrees would create even more significant variations in day lengths. Summer days would become longer, while winter days would become shorter in the affected hemisphere.
3. Winds: The Earth's tilt also influences the distribution of solar energy, which plays a crucial role in driving atmospheric circulation and wind patterns. A change in the tilt of the axis would impact these wind patterns. Generally, winds blow from areas of high pressure to areas of low pressure. When sunlight is distributed more unevenly due to a greater tilt, it could alter the balance of high and low pressures, thus affecting wind patterns. These changes could impact global weather systems and could potentially lead to shifts in climate patterns.
In summary, a greater tilt of the Earth's axis at 30 degrees compared to the current 23.5 degrees would have noticeable effects on the seasons, lengths of days, and winds. It would likely result in more extreme seasonal variations, significant differences in day lengths throughout the year, and potentially altered wind patterns.