Page 319 - (DK) I Can’t Believe It! 2

TRUE OR FALSE? 317

FAST FACTS
EARTH’S DAYS ARE AT MIDNIGHT ON JUNE 21 IT IS LIGHT
GETTING L O N G E R EVERYWHERE NORTH OF THE
ARCTIC CIRCLE
Due to the tidal effects
the Moon has on Earth, June 21 is called the summer solstice
a day is 1.7 milliseconds in the Northern Hemisphere and the
longer than it was a century winter solstice in the Southern
ago. In the age of the Hemisphere. There are 24 hours of
dinosaurs, about 60 million daylight north of the Arctic Circle and
years ago, an Earth day was 24 hours of darkness south of the
less than 23 hours long. Antarctic Circle.

Although Earth is
closer to the sun at MONSOON SEASON
certain times of the
year, the difference in The North Pole
distance is so minor receives no sunlight in
that it does not January, experiencing
affect the weather. 24 hours of darkness.

A seasonal change in the prevailing
wind has dramatic consequences
for southern Asia. Warm, moist
air blows northeast from ocean to
land in summer, bringing the wet
monsoon and heavy flooding. Cool,
dry air blows from land to ocean
in winter. The change in wind
direction comes from the differing
temperatures of land and water.

Why is it
warmer at the
end of summer
than in the
middle?

US_316-317_309600_Seasons.indd 317 20/12/17 5:32 pm