Temperature is Affected by the tilt of Earth's Axis
	The angle at which the sun’s rays strike each part of Earth’s surface changes as Earth moves in its orbit. When the North Pole is tilted toward the sun, the sun’s rays strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly. Thus, the region receives a higher concentration of solar energy and is warmer. When the North Pole is tilted away from the sun, the sun’s rays strike the Northern Hemisphere less directly. When the sunlight is less direct, the solar energy is less concentrated and the region is cooler.
	 The spherical shape of Earth also affects how the sun warms up an area. Temperatures are high at point A in the diagram. This is because the sun’s rays hit Earth’s surface at a right angle and are focused in a small area. Toward the poles, the sun’s rays hit Earth’s surface at a lesser angle. Therefore, the rays are spread out over a larger area and the temperatures are cooler. ​

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