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The equator, Earth’s 40,075-km dividing line, shapes climate, biodiversity, and human life across 13 nations and vast oceans. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
The northern lights, or aurora borealis, have fascinated people for centuries. Seen as souls, heavenly signs, or even messages from the dead, these shimmering light displays are caused by solar winds’ interaction with Earth’s magnetic field.
Southern hemisphere: the half of the Earth that lies south of the equator.
On or about June 22, the first day of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, the northern tip of Earth’s axis is inclined toward the sun at an angle of 23.5 degrees from a line perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. This is the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere. On or about December 22, the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the southern tip of Earth’s axis is inclined toward the sun at an angle of 23.5 degrees from a line perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. This is the summer solstice in the Southern Hemisphere.
Westerly winds, or westerlies, are middle-latitude airstreams that blow from west to east, shaping global weather, ocean currents, and climate patterns. For a detailed description, click on the article title.
The winter solstice, occurring on December 22 in the Northern Hemisphere and June 22 in the Southern Hemisphere, marks the shortest day and longest night of the year, with profound cultural and scientific significance. For a detailed description, click on the article title.