Are Southern Hemisphere Seasons More Severe?
Videos
Grades9, 10, 11, 12, APEarth and Space Sciences
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Provided by Khan Academy
What it is
- This Khan Academy video explains how the oceans act as a moderator to prevent more severe seasonal temperatures in the Southern Hemisphere, even though it's closer to the sun in the summer and further from the sun in the winter.
- Students will learn about the seasons, the eccentricity of Earth's orbit, the specific heat of water, and the reason why Antarctica is colder than the Arctic.
Teaching tips
Positives
- This resource provides a detailed explanation of this topic.
- The whiteboard-style visuals help students access the content.
Prerequisites
- This resource is part of a series on Earth's systems in the AP/College Environmental Science course by Khan Academy.
- The resource does not require a login to view the video, but if students want to leave comments, they will need to sign up.
- Students should already be familiar with the Earth's tilt and have basic knowledge of the seasons.
Differentiation & Implementation
- This resource can be used in an Earth science or environmental science course when learning about Earth's orbit or the seasons.
- The topic can relate to climate change by drawing connections to extreme weather and shifting seasons.
- The video briefly touches on the concepts of specific heat and heat capacity, which can connect this video to a chemistry, physics, or physical science course.
- Other resources related to seasons include Earth's Seasons, Earth's Rotation & Revolution, and Effect of Latitude on Climate.
From the scientist review
During the Southern Hemisphere's summer, the Earth is closer to the Sun. A common and understandable misconception is that the Southern Hemisphere's seasons would therefore be more extreme. However, because the Southern Hemisphere is 81% ocean, and with water needing more energy to heat than land, the seasons there are not more extreme. This resource is recommended for teaching.
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