THE TIDES, THE ECLIPSE, THE SEASONS.

THE TIDES, THE ECLIPSE, THE SEASONS.

The tides are rise and fall of the ocean water level under the influence of the gravitational pull of the sun and the moon are termed Tides. The generated by the tides are called Tidal waves.

TYPES OF TIDAL WAVES
  • SPRING TIDES/ HIGH TIDES/ SYZYGY– When the sun, the moon and the earth are aligned in a straight line, this alignment is called Syzygy. The combined forces of the sun, the moon and the earth result in high tides or spring tides.
  • NEAP / LOW TIDES– When the sun, the moon and the earth are aligned at right angles, the gravitational forces of the sun, the moon work against each other than Neap or low tides are experienced.

The Eclipse is a Greek word that means ” failing to appear”. It is a condition when a celestial body is prevented or reduced by the passage of the second celestial body is called Eclipse.

TYPES OF ECLIPSES
  • THE SOLAR ECLIPSE– In a solar eclipse, the position of the sun, the moon and the earth are such that the moon comes between the Sun and the earth. The light of the sun is interrupted and the shadow of the moon falls on the earth. This is called the solar eclipse. The solar eclipse is of three types-
    • TOTAL SOLAR ECLIPSE – The total solar eclipse occurs on a new moon day. The moon comes between the sun and the earth. The centre of the sun and the moon are in one line, the shadow falls on the earth. When seen the disc of the sun will appear completely covered by the disc of the moon.
    • PARTIAL SOLAR ECLIPSE– When the moon passes between the sun and the earth but not in a direct line. The moon covers only a part of the sun and the part of the sun that has been covered by the moon is visible from the earth.
    • ANNUAL SOLAR ECLIPSE– The annual solar eclipse occurs when the moon covers the middle portion of the sun and leaving its outer part as a ring of light. This happens because the moon is much smaller in size in comparison to the sun.
  • LUNAR ECLIPSE– The lunar eclipse occurs on a New Moon Day. The alignment of the sun, the moon and the earth are such that the earth comes between the moon and the sun. The light of the sun is unable to reach the moon, as a result, the shadow of earth falls on the moon. This is called a lunar eclipse. The lunar eclipse is of three types-
    • PENUMBRAL LUNAR ECLIPSE– The penumbra means”an area of light shadow”. During the penumbral lunar eclipse, the moon is positioned within earth’s penumbra of outer shadow. It is difficult to see.
    • PARTIAL LUNAR ECLIPSE– The umbra means” the dark central portion of a shadow”. Once the moon enters the earth’s umbra the partial eclipse phase begins. Sometimes the sun, the moon and the earth are not aligned perfectly.
    • TOTAL LUNAR ECLIPSE-When the moon is completely covered by the shadow formed by the earth’s alignment with the moon, it is called a total eclipse.

The seasons are the main periods into which a year can be divided and which each have their own typical weather conditions. The factors that are responsible for seasons are-

  • The inclination of the earth axis.
  • The revolution of the earth.
    • The axis of the earth is tilted, the northern and the southern hemispheres of the earth are exposed to the sun alternately.
    • On 21st June, the sun rays are perpendicular over the Tropic of Cancer. it means that the north pole of the earth is tilted towards the sun. Therefore the northern hemisphere has summers the days are long nights are short. The Arctic Circle continues to receive the daylight for a day and at the North Pole, six months of daylight. The 21st of June is the longest day in the northern hemisphere.
    • On 22nd December, the sun is perpendicular over the Tropic of Capricorn. It means the South Pole is tilted towards the sun. Therefore the southern hemisphere has summers. This is the longest day in the southern hemisphere. The Antarctic Circle, there is a day of continuous daylight at the south pole the six months of daylight.
    • The sun shines perpendicularly over the Equator on 1st of March and 23rd of September. The length of day and night is of equal duration i.e 12 hours. The maximum heating is at the equator, diminishes gradually as one moves towards the poles.

Madhvendra Mishra

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