During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, light from the Sun is spread out over a larger area. This indirect light is the same amount of light energy spread over a larger area on the Earth's surface. Therefore, the surface of the Earth does not get as warm. Additionally, with fewer daylight hours in winter, there is less time for the Sun to warm the Earth's surface. During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, it is summer in the Southern Hemisphere. In contrast, when it is winter in the Southern Hemisphere it is summer in the Northern Hemisphere. The hemisphere that is experiencing summer, experiences more hours of daylight. The hemisphere that is experiencing winter has less hours of daylight. This is caused by the tilt of the Earth. Summer occurs in the hemisphere that is tilted toward the Sun. This is when the Sun appears high in the sky and its energy strikes Earth more directly and for longer periods of time. The hemisphere that is tilted away from the Sun experiences winter and the Sun appears lower in the sky. The Earth receives less direct energy from the Sun for shorter periods of time.

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