What if the earth had no tilt?

[bloodhound31]

What would happen if the earth's axis had no tilt? I would like some serious answers in amongst the expected witticisms if possible.....

Baz.

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Baz, the most obvious answer is: we would have no seasons which in turn would affect nature and the weather.

We possibly wouldn't even exist

[bloodhound31]

Ah yes, but how would it work? We would still have night and day and a year around the sun. The moon would maybe have a different effect because its orbit would parallel ours too. The temperatures would still be trying to equalize over oceans and landmass as well as at different altitudes.

How would this affect the surface? How much of the earth would still be habitable? How would it change the temperate zones of the earth?

[ballaratdragons (Ken)]

Baz,

I can only imagine that the Arctic and Antartic Circles would a LOT larger, and the deserts would also be larger and drier.

The cycle of winter/summer/spring plants would not happen, and birds would not migrate due to the seasons. They would have no need to.

It would indeed be a different planet.

[Lee]

I think the Arctic/Antarctic circles would be smaller - they would not get a prolonged winter to build up....

[Bobj]

Apart from the poms sliding off........

http://www.theweatherprediction.com/habyhints2/471/

[spearo (Frank)]

I suspect an analemma would be a boring project to undertake
frank

[saberscorpx]

Sounds like a good deal.
You'd have a new pole star (anything would be better, eh?).
I could watch the Magellanic Clouds graze the horizon.


SJS

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by spearo

I suspect an analemma would be a boring project to undertake
frank

[KenGee (Kenith Gee)]

It's not true that there would be no seasons the variation would however be much reduced. The 5m km difference between Aphelion and Perihelion would have a small but noticeable difference. Even the tropics have seasons. The overall effect would be to make our climate more predictable. The local effects would be hard to know because we simply don't understand all the drivers here. Like for instance what part does the seasonal flooding have to driving the North Atlantic gulf stream?

[bloodhound31]

Twilight all year for the polar caps?

[xelasnave]

Baz why do you ask..do you know something we dont know from your personal observations??

alex

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by xelasnave

Baz why do you ask..do you know something we dont know from your personal observations??

alex

Actually Alex, I put the question out because I am curious to know the what if's. I thought there might be someone here who could give an informed answer or two.

I'm sure you are up to it!

Baz.

[xelasnave]

Of course I am Baz.. I know everything.... but as young Ron would say...I could tell you but then I would have to kill you....

One thing is for sure considering what ifs is a fine indulgence and I encourage you to think what if for everything you are presented with as an established fact...

So do you have any more questions I can answer???

alex

[Outbackmanyep]

This is the sort of question primary school kids would drop on you.......

How do you answer it!?
hmmmmmm.....

[bloodhound31]

Originally Posted by Outbackmanyep

This is the sort of question primary school kids would drop on you.......

How do you answer it!?
hmmmmmm.....

IMHO, Primary school kids ask the hardest (and the best, most interesting) questions. We should give them credit. They also ask questions others are not brave enough to ask.

Baz.

[dannat (Daniel)]

I agree with KG - we would havee moderated weather - In a particular area you would experience the same sort of weather & the day length would probably be the same all year round. Local effects would be numerous including the life cycle of plants & insects not having seasons & thr animals that feed off such organisms.