I’d expect the shortest day of the year to also be the coldest, with the coldest season of the year spreading out equally on both sides of it.
I’d expect the shortest day of the year to also be the coldest, with the coldest season of the year spreading out equally on both sides of it.
There are three popular reckonings for the 4 season model. The meteorological seasons, astronomical seasons, and solar seasons. The solar season places the solstices and equinoxes in the middle of each season. The meteorological seasons are based on temperature but these days are aligned with the months with summer/winter (depending on hemisphere) starting at the start of December and ending on the last day of February. The model the US uses is the astronomical model of seasons and makes the least sense to me, it places the start of each season on the solstices and equinoxes which means that midsummer is actually the start of summer there.
We do meteorological here in Australia so December to February style. I had no idea there were places that put the equinox as the start.
That said, dividing the year into 4 seasons has always seemed very reductive to me. Our local indigenous aboriginals describe the weather in 6 seasons. People who have spent a life time observing the weather in the course of earning a living can describe what changes in patterns to expect from month to month. Of course, this knowledge is only applicable locally.
What do you mean when you say that the US uses this model and Australia uses that model? Who uses it and for what? In my country the government doesn’t tell us what season it is or what system to use. People just use whatever system they fancy and most likely it’s just based on gut feeling instead of a calendar day.
No one will look at you sceptically when you say “This is a cold winter” on a freezing November day, nor will the be confused if you say “What a nice spring day” on a sunny February afternoon.
People would 100% correct you if you use an alternative system.
I mean, obviously people would be confused if you called February “spring” in Australia, but then again you celebrate Christmas in summer 😁
Yeah the Sámi people of the Nordic countries have 8 seasons, so it is highly local how many seasons and when they change.
which country do you live in? I live in Noongar country, they also use 6 seasons and I think it is a much better system. The Noongar seasons are an ecological system based on changes in nature
Yeah noongar.
I think they’re from Australia.
In Australia, the term “country” can also mean which Aboriginal land you’re on. Sort of equivalent to an American saying which Native American tribe’s “nation” they’re in, I think.
Reading again, that makes much more sense, thanks!
Yeah, it’s actually extremely common here in Australia. Major sporting events and other special occasions are often opened with a “welcome to Country” ceremony, performed by an Indigenous Elder.
Smaller events, from the weekly City Council meeting to radio programmes to some Australian Twitch streamers, will often include an “acknowledgement of Country” made by a non-Indigenous person. A simple statement like “I would like to acknowledge the Yuggera and Turrbal people who are the traditional custodians of the land on which we are gathered, and pay respects to their Elders past, present, and emerging.”
Keep an eye out, if you’re interested, for the opening ceremony of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics. Or any other sporting events that might come to your attention that are located in Australia.
That’s interesting, indeed! I’ll keep an eye out!
Yeh, no shit… So am I. https://aiatsis.gov.au/explore/map-indigenous-australia
If there are 2 things I hate, it’s off by one errors.
There’s 3 ways to model 4 seasons. All 3 ways recognize there are 4 seasons.