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Winter is one of the four seasons of temperate zones. Nature, in the broadest sense is equivalent to the natural world, physical universe, material world or material universe. The weather is a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given Atmosphere at a given Time. A season is one of the major divisions of the Year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in Weather. Spring is one of the four Temperate Seasons Spring marks the transition from Winter into Summer. Summer is one of the four Temperate Seasons Summer marks the warmest time of year with the longest days Autumn (also known as fall in North American English) is one of the four Temperate Seasons Autumn marks the transition from Summer The Tropics are centered on the Equator and limited in Latitude by the Tropic of Cancer in the northern hemisphere at approximately 23°26' (23 The dry season is a term commonly used when describing the weather in the Tropics. A wet season or rainy season is a Season in which the average Rainfall in a region is significantly increased A storm is any disturbed state of an astronomical body's atmosphere, especially affecting its surface and strongly implying Severe weather. A tornado is a violent rotating column of air which is in contact with both the surface of the earth and a Cumulonimbus cloud or in rare cases the base of a Cumulus A tropical cyclone is a storm system characterized by a low pressure center and numerous Thunderstorms that produce strong winds and Flooding Extratropical cyclones, sometimes called mid-latitude cyclones or wave cyclones, are a group of Cyclones defined as synoptic scale low A winter storm is an event in which the dominant varieties of precipitation are forms that only occur at cold Temperatures such as Snow or A blizzard is a severe Winter storm condition characterized by low Temperatures strong Winds and heavy blowing Snow Blizzards are formed when An ice storm is a type of Winter storm characterized by Freezing rain. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric Fog is a cloud that is in contact with the ground Stratus clouds are usually the only clouds that touch the ground Drizzle (also called mizzle) is light precipitation consisting of liquid water drops smaller than that of Rain, and generally smaller than 0 Rain is Liquid precipitation. On Earth it is the condensation of atmospheric Water vapor into drops heavy enough to fall often making it to Freezing rain is a type of precipitation that begins as Snow at higher altitude falling from a Cloud towards earth melts completely on its way down while passing Ice pellets are a form of precipitation consisting of small Translucent ice balls Hail is a form of precipitation which consists of balls or irregular lumps of ice (hailstones "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. Graupel (also called snow pellets) refers to precipitation that forms when supercooled Droplets of Water condense on a Snowflake forming This is a list of meteorology topics. The terms relate to Meteorology, the Interdisciplinary scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on Meteorology (from Greek grc μετέωρος metéōros, "high in the sky" and grc -λογία -logia) is the Interdisciplinary Weather forecasting is the application of science and technology to predict the state of the atmosphere for a future time and a given location Climate encompasses the temperatures humidity rainfall atmospheric particle count and numerous other meteorogical factors in a given region over long periods of Air pollution is the human introduction into the atmosphere of Chemicals Particulate matter, or Biological materials that cause harm or discomfort A season is one of the major divisions of the Year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in Weather. Calculated meteorologically, it begins on the equinox and ends on the solstice. Meteorology (from Greek grc μετέωρος metéōros, "high in the sky" and grc -λογία -logia) is the Interdisciplinary An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle Solstices occur twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes It is the season with the shortest days and the lowest average temperatures. Temperature is a physical property of a system that underlies the common notions of hot and cold something that is hotter generally has the greater temperature It has colder weather and, especially in the higher latitudes or altitudes, snow and ice. The weather is a set of all the phenomena occurring in a given Atmosphere at a given Time. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia The coldest average temperatures of the season are typically experienced in January in the Northern Hemisphere and in July in the Southern Hemisphere. Events in January Holidays New Year's Day - January 1 Coptic Christmas - January 7 Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' Events in July The traditional period known as "fence month" (the closed season for deer in England ended July 9 (date varied Southern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is South of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball'

Contents

Aspects

In many parts of the world, winter is associated with snow and ice. Winter in Germany (above)
In many parts of the world, winter is associated with snow and ice. "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia Winter in Germany (above)

Meteorology

Animation of snowcover changing with the seasons.
Animation of snowcover changing with the seasons. Germany, officially the Federal Republic of Germany ( ˈbʊndəsʁepuˌbliːk ˈdɔʏtʃlant is a Country in Central Europe. A season is one of the major divisions of the Year, generally based on yearly periodic changes in Weather.

Meteorological winter is the season having the shortest days and the lowest temperatures. Night-time predominates the winter season, and in some regions it has the highest rate of precipitation as well as prolonged dampness because of permanent snow cover or high precipitation rates coupled with low temperatures, precluding evaporation. In Meteorology, precipitation (also known as one class of hydrometeors, which are atmospheric water phenomena is any product of the condensation of atmospheric "Snowfall" redirects here For other uses see Snow (disambiguation or Snowfall (disambiguation. Blizzards often develop and cause many transportation delays. A blizzard is a severe Winter storm condition characterized by low Temperatures strong Winds and heavy blowing Snow Blizzards are formed when A rare meteorological phenomenon encountered during winter is ice fog, which is composed of ice crystals suspended in the air and happening only at very low temperatures, below about −30 °C [1]. Fog is a cloud that is in contact with the ground Stratus clouds are usually the only clouds that touch the ground Ice crystals - small crystalline form of Ice including hexagonal columns hexagonal plates dendritic crystals and Diamond dust.

Accumulations of snow and ice are mostly associated with winter in the Northern Hemisphere, due to the large land masses there. In the Southern Hemisphere, the more maritime climate and the relative lack of land south of 40 degrees South makes the winters more mild, and thus snow and ice are less common in inhabited regions of the Southern Hemisphere. In the Southern Hemisphere, snow occurs every year in elevated regions such as the Andes, the Great Dividing Range in Australia, and the mountains of New Zealand, and also occurs in the southerly Patagonia region of South America. Llao LLaojpg|thumb|250px| Lake Nahuel Huapi, near Bariloche, Argentina Snow occurs year-round in Antarctica.

Period

It is often said that, astronomically, winter starts with the winter solstice and ends with the vernal equinox. The winter solstice occurs at the instant when the Sun 's position in the sky is at its greatest angular distance on the other side of the equatorial plane from the An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle In meteorology, it is by convention counted instead as the whole months of June, July and August in the Southern Hemisphere and December, January and February in the Northern Hemisphere. Events in December Union Day of Romania (1 December World AIDS Day ( December 1) National Day of Events in January Holidays New Year's Day - January 1 Coptic Christmas - January 7 Overview February was named after the Latin term februum, which means purification, via the purification ritual Februa held on February 15 in the Northern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is North of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball' While in actuality, the most accurate start and end point is simply defined by when the first major wave of cold fronts and warm fronts hit a particular area, having no universally predetermined dates. A cold front defined as the leading edge of a cooler and drier mass of air A warm front is defined as the leading edge of an advancing mass of warm air it separates warm air from the colder air ahead

In Celtic nations such as Ireland using the Irish calendar, the winter solstice is traditionally considered as midwinter, with the winter season beginning November 1 on All Hallows or Samhain. Celtic nations are areas of modern northwest Europe which identify themselves with the Celtic cultures specifically speakers of Celtic languages. Ireland ( Irish: Éire, ˈeːrʲə is a country in north-western Europe. The Irish calendar does not observe the typical astronomical seasons (beginning in the Northern Hemisphere on the Equinoxes and Solstices, or the meteorological seasons Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Halloween, or Hallowe’en, is a Holiday celebrated on the night of October 31. Samhain (ˈsaʊn or /ˈsɑːwɪn/ Irish /ˈsˠaunʲ/ from the Old Irish samain) is the word for November in a few Gaelic languages Winter ends and spring begins on Imbolc or Candlemas, which is February 1 or February 2. Imbolc is one of the four principal festivals of the Irish calendar, celebrated among Gaelic peoples and some other Celtic cultures either at the beginning The Feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the Temple celebrates an early episode in the life of Jesus, and falls on or around 2 February. Events 1327 - Teenaged Edward III is crowned King of England, but the country is ruled by his mother Queen Events 962 - Translatio imperii: Pope John XII crowns Otto I Holy Roman Emperor, the first Holy Roman Emperor This system of seasons is based on the length of days exclusively. The three-month period of the shortest days and weakest solar radiation occurs during November, December and January in the Northern Hemisphere and May-July in the Southern Hemisphere. Southern Hemisphere is the half of a Planet that is South of the Equator —the word hemisphere literally means 'half ball'

Also many mainland European countries tend to recognize Martinmas, St. Martin's day (November 11) as the first calendar day of winter. St Martin's Day (or Martinstag) is November 11, the Feast day of Martin of Tours, who started out as a Roman soldier Saint Martin is a tropical Island in the northeast Caribbean, approximately 300 km (186 miles east of Puerto Rico. Events 308 - The Congress of Carnuntum: Attempting to keep peace within the Roman Empire, the leaders of the Tetrarchy declare The day falls at midpoint between the old Julian equinox and solstice dates. An equinox is the event of the Sun passing over the Earth's equator in its annual cycle Solstices occur twice a year when the tilt of the Earth's axis is most oriented toward or away from the Sun, causing the Sun to reach its northernmost and southernmost extremes Also, Valentines Day (February 14) is recognized by some countries as heralding the first rites of Spring (season), such as flower blooming. Valentine's Day or Saint Valentine's Day is a Holiday celebrated on February 14 Events 842 - Charles the Bald and Louis the German swear the Oaths of Strasbourg in the French and German Spring is one of the four Temperate Seasons Spring marks the transition from Winter into Summer.

In Chinese astronomy (and other East Asian calendars), winter is taken to commence on or around November 7, with the Jiéqì known as (立冬 lì dōng, literally "establishment of winter". Astronomy in China has a very long history Oracle bones from the Shang Dynasty ( 2nd millennium BC) record eclipses and novae The Chinese calendar is lunisolar, incorporating elements of a Lunar calendar with those of a Solar calendar. Events 1492 - The Ensisheim Meteorite the oldest Meteorite with a known date of impact strikes the Earth around noon in a Wheat A solar term is one of 24 points in traditional East Asian Lunisolar calendars that matches a particular astronomical event or signifies some natural phenomenon )

The three-month period associated with the coldest average temperatures typically begins somewhere in late November or early December in the Northern Hemisphere. Events in November All Saints' Day (formerly All Hallows Day a Christian holy day is celebrated on November 1, the day after Halloween If "winter" is defined as the statistically coldest quarter of the year, then the astronomical definition is too late by almost all local climate standards, and the traditional English/Irish definition of November 1 (May 1 in the Southern Hemisphere) is usually too early to fit this standard. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Ireland (pronounced /ˈaɾlənd/ Éire) is the third largest island in Europe, and the twentieth-largest island in the world Events 996 - Emperor Otto III issues a deed to Gottschalk Bishop of Freising which is the oldest known document using the name Ostarrîchi Events 305 - Diocletian and Maximian retire from the office of Roman Emperor. No matter the reckoning, winter is the only season that spans two calendar years in the northern hemisphere. (In other words, there are very few temperate climates in which the vernal equinox is on average colder than the winter solstice, and very few temperate climates in which Samhain is colder than Imbolc).

Causes

See also: Effect of sun angle on climate

The tilt of the Earth's axis relative to its orbital plane has a dramatic effect on the weather. The amount of heat energy received at any location on the globe is a direct effect of sun angle of climate, as the angle at which Sunlight strikes the earth EARTH was a short-lived Japanese vocal trio which released 6 singles and 1 album between 2000 and 2001 The Earth is tilted at an angle of 23. 44° to the plane of its orbit, and this causes different latitudes on the Earth to directly face the Sun as the Earth moves through its orbit. The Sun (Sol is the Star at the center of the Solar System. It is this variation that primarily brings about the seasons. When it is winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere faces the Sun more directly and thus experiences warmer temperatures than the Northern Hemisphere. Conversely, winter in the Southern Hemisphere occurs when the Northern hemisphere is tilted more toward the Sun. From the perspective of an observer on the Earth, the winter Sun has a lower maximum altitude in the sky than the summer Sun.

During winter in either hemisphere, the lower altitude of the Sun in winter causes the sunlight to hit that hemisphere at an oblique angle. In regions experiencing winter, the same amount of solar radiation is spread out over a larger area. This effect is compounded by the larger distance that the light must travel through the atmosphere, allowing the atmosphere to dissipate more heat.

Exceptional cases

Ecology

The Snowshoe Hare is one animal that changes color in winter.
The Snowshoe Hare is one animal that changes color in winter. The Snowshoe Hare ( Lepus americanus) also called the Varying Hare, is a species of Hare found in North America.

To survive the harshness of winter, many animals have developed different behavioral and morphological adaptations for Overwintering:

Annual plants never survive the winter. Botanically an annual plant is a Plant that usually germinates, Flowers and dies in one Year. As for perennial plants, many small ones profit from the insulating effects of snow by being buried in it. A perennial plant or perennial ( Latin per, "through" annus, "year" is a Plant that lives for more than Larger plants, particularly deciduous trees, usually let their upper part go dormant, but their roots are still protected by the snow layer. Botany Autumn leaf color. See --> In Botany and Horticulture, deciduous Plants, including Few plants bloom in the winter, with exceptions including the flowering plum (which flowers in time for Chinese New Year). Chinese New Year is the most important of the Traditional Chinese holidays.

Activities

Snowboarder in the halfpipe
Snowboarder in the halfpipe
Main article: Winter sport

Snow activities

Many winter activities involve the use of snow in some form (which sometimes may still be manmade, via snow cannons):

Ice activities

Bandy, an early form of ice hockey.
Bandy, an early form of ice hockey. Bandy is a Winter sport, where a ball is hit with a stick It shares a common ancestry with Ice hockey, in that it likely developed from the informal "ball and

Many other winter activities and sports focus on ice, which may be contained in an ice rink. Ice is a Solid phase, usually crystalline, of a Non-metalic substance that is liquid or gas at Room temperature, such as Ammonia An Ice rink is a frozen body of Water where people can Ice skate or play winter sports

Psychology

Long, harsh winters are believed to have affected the Russian national character.
Long, harsh winters are believed to have affected the Russian national character. Russia (Россия Rossiya) or the Russian Federation ( Rossiyskaya Federatsiya) is a transcontinental Country extending

Passing seasons change the habits and moods of people. During the winter months in the northern hemisphere, a gloominess nicknamed "winter blues", "February blahs", "Holiday depression", or doldrums, is informally noted amongst people. The severest cases of this type of depression is diagnosed as seasonal affective disorder (SAD). In the fields of Psychology and Psychiatry, the terms depression or depressed refer to both expected and pathologically chronic or severe Seasonal affective disorder ( SAD) also known as winter depression, is a Mood disorder in which people who have normal mental health throughout most of the year experience Symptoms include sleeping more, tiredness, depression, and physical aches. Although causes include genetic disposition and stress, the prevailing environmental influence is decreased exposure to light because of the angle of the sun and cloudcover and the increased amount of clothing that must be worn to keep warm. Light, or visible light, is Electromagnetic radiation of a Wavelength that is visible to the Human eye (about 400–700

Symbolism

Some use winter to suggest death, as in Robert Frost's "Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening". Robert Lee Frost (March 26 1874 &ndash January 29 1963 was an American Poet. " Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening " is a poem written Some use it to suggest the absence of hope, as in C. S. Lewis's The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, where it was always winter but never Christmas. Clive Staples Lewis (29 November 1898 – 22 November 1963 The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe is a fantasy novel for children by C Winter is one concerto in Antonio Vivaldi's "The Four Seasons"; and there are many examples of four paintings, all showing the same scene in different seasons. Ursula K. LeGuin's novel The Left Hand of Darkness is set on a planet named Winter. The Left Hand of Darkness is a Science fiction Novel by Ursula K In Alex Raymond's comic strip, Flash Gordon, there is a land called Frigia, where it is always winter. Alexander Gillespie Raymond ( October 2, 1909 – September 6, 1956) was an American Comic strip artist best known for creating the Flash Gordon is the hero of a Science fiction adventure Comic strip originally drawn by Alex Raymond, which was first published on January 7, The land of Frigia is also featured in the serial Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe. Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe is a 1940 twelve episode serial film about Flash Gordon. Other uses of winter in the graphic arts occur in Winsor McCay's Little Nemo in Slumberland. Winsor McCay ( September 26 1867 (? – July 26 1934) was an American Cartoonist and Animator. Little Nemo is the main Fictional character in a series of weekly Comic strips by Winsor McCay (1871-1934 that appeared in the New York Herald There are many films in which a winter setting plays an important role, Fargo being an example. Fargo is a 1996 American Film produced directed and written by brothers Ethan and Joel Coen. Novels such as Ethan Frome also use a winter setting to mirror the bleak, frozen feelings that the characters harbor. Ethan Frome is a novel that was released in 1911 by the Pulitzer Prize -winning American author Edith Wharton. The film Requiem for a Dream concludes with "Act III: Winter", in which the movie reaches its hellish and chilling climax. Requiem for a Dream is an Academy Award -nominated 2000 Film adaptation of the 1978 novel of the same name.

Mythology

In various cultures

In Greek mythology, Hades kidnapped Persephone to be his wife. Greek mythology is the body of stories belonging to the ancient Greeks concerning their gods and Heroes the nature of the world and the origins and significance Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient In Greek mythology, Persephone ( Kore or Cora) was the embodiment of the Earth's fertility at the same time that she was the Queen of the Underworld Zeus ordered Hades to return her to Demeter, the goddess of the earth and her mother. Zeus (zjuːs in Greek: nominative: Zeús /zdeús/ genitive: Diós; Modern Greek /'zefs/ in Greek mythology Demeter (dɨˈmiːtɚ Greek:, possibly "distribution-mother" from the noun of the Indo-European mother-earth * dheghom * mater However, Hades tricked Persephone into eating the food of the dead so Zeus decreed Persephone would spend six months with Demeter and six months with Hades. During the time when her daughter is with Hades, Demeter becomes depressed and causes winter. In Welsh Mythology, Gwyn ap Nudd abducted a maiden named Creiddylad. Welsh mythology, the remnants of the Mythology of the pre Christian Britons, has come down to us in much altered form in medieval Welsh manuscripts In Welsh mythology, Gwyn ap Nudd (/ˈgwɨn ap ˈnɨːð/ sometimes found with the antiquated spelling Gwynn ap Nudd) was king of the Tylwyth Teg (the " Creiddylad is a daughter of Lludd Llaw Eraint in Welsh mythology. On May Day her lover Gwythr ap Greidawl fought Gwyn to win her back. May Day occurs on May 1 and refers to any of several Public holidays In many countries May Day is synonymous with International Workers' Day, or Labour In Welsh mythology, Gwythr ap Greiddawl was a rival of Gwyn ap Nudd, a God (male deity connected with the otherworld. The battle between them represented the contest between summer and winter.

Personifications

Gallery

An allegory of Winter, by Ambrogio Lorenzetti

Winter, by Giuseppe Arcimboldo

19th century etching of Jack Frost as a United States major-general during the American Civil War

Roman mosaic of the four seasons. Old Man Winter, like the Elfish creature Jack Frost, is a Personification of Winter, sometimes also called Father Winter. Old Man Winter, like the Elfish creature Jack Frost, is a Personification of Winter, sometimes also called Father Winter. In English Folklore, Jack Frost appears as an Elfish creature who personifies crisp cold Winter weather a variant of Father Winter In the culture of the Eastern Slavs the traditional character Ded Moroz (Дед Мороз plays a role similar to that of Santa Claus. Snegurochka (Снегурочка or the Snow Maiden, is a character in Russian fairy tales. An allegory (from αλλος allos "other" and el αγορευειν agoreuein "to speak in public" is a figurative mode of representation Ambrogio Lorenzetti (or Ambruogio Laurati; c 1290 &ndash June 9, 1348) was an Italian painter of the Sienese school. Giuseppe Arcimboldo (also spelled Arcimboldi; 1527 - July 11 1593) was an Italian painter best known for creating imaginative The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Major General or Major-General is a Military rank used in many countries Causes of the war See also Origins of the American Civil War, Timeline of events leading to the American Civil War The coexistence of a slave-owning South Ancient Rome was a Civilization that grew out of a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 10th century BC Art History Mosaics of the 4th century BC are found in the Macedonian palace-city of Aegae, and they enriched the floors of Hellenistic Winter is at the lower right corner.

A depiction of Snegurochka by Victor Vasnetsov

'Winter Windows' (1966-1967) by Jane Frank, jagged holes reveal a bleak and wintery second canvas

The Triumph of Winter, by Antoine Caron

See also

Human-related:

Weather-related:

References

  1. ^ Winter of 1947

Further reading

External links

Dictionary

winter

-noun

  1. Traditionally the fourth of the four seasons, typically regarded as being from December 21 to March 20 in Northern Hemisphere regions and from June 21 to September 20 in Southern Hemisphere regions. Usually marked by the applicable hemisphere of the planet being at its minimum angle of exposure to the Sun, resulting in short days and typically the time period with the lowest atmospheric temperatures for the region.

-verb

  1. (intransitive) To spend the winter (in a particular place).
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