We explain everything about winter, its importance and characteristics. Also, the differences between the northern hemisphere and the southern hemisphere.
What is winter?
winter It is the coldest of the four seasons of the year which takes place between fall and spring. It is characterized by having cold, short days, with low solar radiation, along with longer and frostier nights, especially in the regions furthest from the equator.
Like all seasons of the year, winter occurs due to the permanent inclination of the planetary axis (23.44° with respect to its orbital plane), thanks to which the Earth moves its hemispheres away from and closer to solar radiation throughout its orbit. Thus, winter takes place in the half of the planet that is furthest from the Sun, while summer occurs in the half closest to it.
Winter begins at the winter solstice, that is, when the Sun's rays impact as little directly as possible, and ends three months later with the spring equinox, that is, when the Sun hits the Earth's equator directly. This means that winter days have fewer hours of daylight than summer days, meaning the nights are longer.
However, since ancient times, humans have sought mystical and religious explanations for the arrival of winter. The ancient Greeks, for example, related it to the myth of Persephone, daughter of the agricultural goddess Demeter, who was kidnapped by Hades, god of the underworld, and became queen of the world of the dead.
Her mother, heartbroken by her absence, neglected the land and let the crops die, so the father god Zeus intervened to reach an agreement: Persephone would spend six months with her husband in the underworld and six months with her mother in the world. of the living. The first are the six winter months of cold and seclusion (that is, autumn and winter), while the second are the six months of heat, fertility and abundance (that is, spring and summer) in which Demeter celebrates. the return of his daughter.
In fact, in most cultures, winter is associated with death, desolation, sadness and scarcity, since it is a season of withdrawal and difficulty, in which the harvest is not possible and living beings seek refuge. Many animal species hibernate during this period of the year That is, they lock themselves in their dens and assume a state of lethargy that allows them to survive with a minimum of energy expenditure.
Winter Features
In general terms, winter is characterized by the following:
- It is the coldest season of the year, in which the sun falls less directly on one of the earth's hemispheres. That makes the days shorter and the nights longer.
- It is located between autumn and spring. The exact dates of the beginning and end of winter vary depending on whether it is in the northern or southern hemisphere, but they are always between the winter solstice and the spring equinox.
- The decrease in solar radiation reduces the growth capacity of plants so there is no sowing or harvesting, and in some regions the ground freezes and hardens or is covered with snow. Life adapts to these conditions through different mechanisms, such as hibernation.
- In regions close to the tropics which do not have the four seasons marked, The term “winter” is often used to refer to the rainy season or not used at all.
Winter in the northern hemisphere
In the northern hemisphere, Winter formally begins on December 21 and ends on March 21. This is known as the boreal winter, whose well-defined features involve the sudden drop in temperatures due to the action of polar air masses which brings with it abundant rains and atmospheric humidity. In the northernmost regions of the hemisphere, snowfall and temperatures dropping well below 0°C are typical.
Winter in the southern hemisphere
In the southern hemisphere, winter It formally begins on June 21 and ends on September 21. This is known as the southern winter, characterized by a less pronounced drop in temperatures and a marked drop in humidity. The southernmost regions of the hemisphere, such as South American Patagonia, however, tend to see a greater drop in temperatures and the appearance of snow and frost.
Importance of winter
Winter is part of a balanced circuit, which combines cold and heat to achieve a relatively stable climate. The arrival of winter can be a source of pressure and discomfort in the human population and a challenge in general for life, but at the same time The regularity of its duration allows natural cycles to occur correctly and brings a long pause to numerous chemical and biochemical circuits. In general, it is a demanding season, which prepares life for the resurgence of spring.
On the other hand, winter has had an important impact on culture, as a source of metaphors and inspiration in arts and literature. In general, it is understood in a similar way to how we understand death: as a tragic but natural stage, which is an inevitable part of the circuit of life.
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References
- “Winter” on Wikipedia.
- “Etymology of Winter” in the Online Spanish Etymological Dictionary.
- “Scientific curiosities about winter” in VERY Interesting.
- “Winter: The Coldest Season” on LiveScience.
- “Winter (season)” in The Encyclopaedia Britannica.
