Seasons: Meteorological and Astronomical
When do spring, summer, fall, and winter start and end? It depends on which definition you use and if you are north or south of the equator.
The four seasons are spring, summer, fall (autumn), and winter.
©bigstockphoto.com/iluzia
The Four Seasons
The Earth's axis is slightly tilted in relation to its orbit around the Sun. This is why we have seasons.
In most cultures, including all western countries, the year is commonly divided into four seasons:
- Spring
- Summer
- Fall or Autumn
- Winter
Since the year has 12 months, each season lasts about three months. However, the dates when the seasons begin and end vary depending on whom you ask. Two methods are most commonly used to define the dates of the seasons: the astronomical definition and the meteorological definition.
Astronomical terms & definitions
Astronomical Seasons
The astronomical definition uses the dates of equinoxes and solstices to mark the beginning and end of the seasons:
- Spring begins on the spring equinox;
- Summer begins on the summer solstice;
- Fall (autumn) begins on the fall equinox; and
- Winter begins on the winter solstice.
What are equinoxes and solstices?
The beginning of each season marks the end of the last.
Because the timings of the equinoxes and solstices change each year, the length of astronomical seasons within a year and between years also vary.
Equinoxes and solstices dates worldwide
Meteorological Seasons
According to the meteorological definition, the seasons begin on the first day of the months that include the equinoxes and solstices. In the Northern Hemisphere, for example,
- spring runs from March 1 to May 31;
- summer runs from June 1 to August 31;
- fall (autumn) runs from September 1 to November 30; and
- winter runs from December 1 to February 28 (February 29 in a leap year).
When the Northern Hemisphere gets most sunlight (summer), the Southern Hemisphere gets least (winter).
©timeanddate.com
Opposite Sides – Opposite Seasons
Seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere. For example, under the definition of astronomical seasons, the June solstice marks the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, but it is the start of winter in the Southern Hemisphere. The same rule applies for the other seasons.
The meteorological seasons in the Southern Hemisphere are also opposite to those in the Northern Hemisphere:
- spring starts September 1 and ends November 30;
- summer starts December 1 and ends February 28 (February 29 in a Leap Year);
- fall (autumn) starts March 1 and ends May 31; and
- winter starts June 1 and ends August 31;
Different Countries, Different Seasons
The question which definition to use divides countries and regions around the world. For example, Australia and New Zealand use the meteorological definition, so spring begins on September 1 each year. In many other countries, both definitions are used, depending on the context.
In Ireland, St Brigid's Day on February 1 is often thought to mark the beginning of spring in the ancient Celtic calendar system. Some cultures, especially those in South Asia have calendars that divide the year into six seasons, instead of the four that most of us are familiar with.
In Finland and Sweden, the dates of the seasons are not based on the calendar at all, but on temperatures. This means that the seasons within each county start and end on different dates, depending on the regions and their climate.
In Iceland, the first day of summer, a national holiday, falls on the first Thursday after April 18.