Interactive Activity

Seasons in 3D © Explore learning


Background Information:

This interactive activity will help you put a few of the factors we have looked at together so that you can better understand how they affect the climate of a region.

Please note: if you scroll down while in the Gizmo you will see a list of questions. You DO NOT need to complete these questions. You are able to complete them for extra practice if you would like.


  1. Click on the play icon to open the Gizmo. Print students can access the Gizmo in the Online Resources for Print Students.
  2. Move the simulation speed slider all the way to the right and press play.
© Explore learning
D3.16 Simulation speed slider

  1. Observe how the earth moves over the course of one year when looking down on the North Pole in the larger screen. Make sure you note how the light from the sun changes its path on the globe as it moves around the sun. 
  2. During what months would the North Pole not see the sun? During what months would the North Pole constantly see the sun?

    The North Pole will be in continuous darkness from October to March, and in continuous sunlight from April to September.
© Explore learning
D3.17 The large screen

  1. Click the reset button and press play again. This time observe in the smaller screen how the earth moves when looking at the equator over the course of one year.
  2. Click the reset button and change the latitude to 50ËšN. This is the approximate latitude of central Alberta
© Explore learning
D3.18 The small screen

  1. Drag the date slider to June 21 at the bottom of the simulation.
© Explore learning
D3.19 The date slider

  1. Observe how the earth is tilted. Which hemisphere would be experiencing winter at this time?

    The Southern Hemisphere would be experiencing winter, because it is tilted away from the sun.
  2. Now drag the date slider to December 21.
  3. Observe how the earth is tilted. Which hemisphere would be experiencing winter at this time?

    The Northern Hemisphere would be experiencing winter, because it is tilted away from the sun.
© Explore learning
D3.20 The date and time
  1. Go to the “GRAPH” tab and complete the following table. To do this, you will need to drag the date slider to each date and then press play to gather data. You will need to move the simulation speed slider all the way to the left. Once you have gathered data for one date, click reset and drag the date slider to the next date.
© Explore learning
D3.21 Graph tab
Date Noon Solar Intensity (w/m2h)
Sunrise Sunset Hours of Daylight
March 21
June 21
September 23
December 21

  1. Click reset and change the graph to “Year graph.” Move the simulation speed slider all the way to the right and click play. Take a screenshot of, or draw, the graphs after one year has passed.
  2. Pick a different place on Earth than Alberta and look up the latitude for that location. Go back to the “DESCRIPTION” tab and change the latitude for that location. Please note that if your location is in the Southern Hemisphere, you will need to enter the latitude as a negative number. Complete step 11 at your new location.
  3. Click reset and change the graph to “Year graph.” Move the simulation speed slider all the way to the right and click play. Take a screenshot of, or draw, the graphs after one year has passed.
  4. Please return to the top of this page and click on analysis to complete the analysis questions.
Here is an example observation chart for Alberta:


Date		 Noon Solar Intensity (w/m2h)
Sunrise Sunset Hours of Daylight
March 21
35.16 6 am
6 pm
12
June 21
49.76 4 am
8 pm
16
September 23
35.21 6 am
6 pm
12
December 21
15.68 8 am
4 pm
8
  1. Which dates are the spring equinox, fall equinox, winter solstice, and summer solstice in Alberta? How do you know based on the data you gathered?

    The spring equinox is March 21, because this date is the start of spring in Alberta and has an equal number of day and night hours. September 23 is the fall equinox, because it is the start of fall in Alberta and has an equal number of day and night hours. June 21 is the summer solstice, because it is the start of summer in Alberta and has the most amount of daylight hours. December 21 is the winter solstice, because it is the start of winter in Alberta and has the least amount of daylight hours.
  2. What are these dates for your second location? How does your data vary between the two locations? Why does your data vary?

    Your answer should be a variation of the following: My second location was Lima, Peru. Lima’s spring equinox is September 23, as it is spring in Lima and has an equal number of day and night hours. Lima’s fall equinox is March 21, because it is fall in Lima and has equal number of day and night hours. The summer solstice is December 21, as it is summer in Lima and has the most number of daylight hours, while the winter solstice is June 21, as it is winter in Lima and has the least number of daylight hours. My data for Lima shows a much smaller variation in daylight hours throughout the year, as it is much closer to the equator. Lima’s seasons are also opposite to Alberta’s seasons, since it is in the Southern Hemisphere.
  3. How do the year graphs compare between your two locations? Are they different? Why are they different or not different?

    Your answer should be a variation of the following: My second location was Lima, Peru, and the year graphs for Lima and Alberta were very different. Alberta has a much larger variation between solar energy and hours of daylight throughout the year. This is because Lima is much closer to the equator than Alberta.
  1. The graph below represents the solar intensity measured over one day at Fort Chipewyan, located in northern Alberta. What is the most likely date?

    1. March 21
    2. June 21
    3. September 23
    4. December 21

      The answer is B. Since Fort Chipewyan is in the Northern Hemisphere, it will see summer in June. We can tell this is a summer month because of the high amount of solar intensity and the long daylight hours (from 4 am to 9 pm).
© Explore learning
D3.22 Fort Chipewyan solar intensity graph