Every Year has Eight Seasons

With the first snow arriving on Dec. 2, it seemed an appropriate time to discuss seasons. The four seasons are spring, summer, fall, and winter. However, when stating the season, one needs to differentiate between astronomical and meteorological. Astronomical seasons are caused by the Earth’s tilt on its axis as it orbits the sun. Meteorological seasons are defined by the weather.

First, the definition of the first snow. Technically, the definition of the first snow is when that snow accumulates to at least 0.1 inch or is considered measurable. This reporter prefers a simpler definition, since she does not carry meteorological measuring devices with her. The first snow is when there is enough snow to track a duck! It is super neat that this year the first snow occurred Dec. 1-2. Dec. 1 is when meteorologic Winter begins.

Every three months a season begins — twice. The question is “Do you want seasons to predict agricultural activity?” If your answer is yes, then you want to use Meteorological dates. Oh, you also have to know what hemisphere you desire.

Since the eighteenth century, scientists have been looking for a better way to define seasons. Another advantage is that it is simpler. The year is divided into three-month segments and the season determined by the average weather conditions.

In the Northern Hemisphere, that means the start date for each season is March 1 (spring), June 1 (summer), Sept. 1 (fall), and Dec. 1 (winter). In the Southern Hemisphere, the seasons are reversed; spring begins in September, summer in December, fall in March, and winter in June.

By creating seasons around the actual temperatures and containing complete months, predictions are much easier to produce. Hopefully they are then more accurate.

Historically, the seasons were based on the sun’s position relative to the earth’s slant. Four significant days are created. Two where the day is split equally between darkness and light (equinox.) The other two days are defined as the brightest and darkest days (solstices.)

In the Northern Hemisphere, spring begins with the Vernal Equinox (around March 21), Summer with the Summer Solstice (around June 21), Fall with the Autumnal Equinox (around Sept. 20) and Winter by the Hibernal Solstice (around Dec. 21). The solar year and the calendar year cannot be reconciled-hence the existence of Leap Year. As a result

The solar year is approximately 365.2422 Earth days long, making it impossible for any calendar to perfectly sync with Earth’s rotation around the sun, according to National Geographic’s “Every season actually begins twice — here’s why” by Amy McKeever, May 1, 2023.

As a result, the actual calendar date is different each year.

So when is the first day of every season? It isn’t the first of the month or the position of the sun — it’s both. Enjoy all eight seasons!