What if the Earth's axis was not tilted?

Question

More specifically, how would global insulation be affected if the Earth's axis was not tilted. I have to write a short paper on this for my Geography class. We're are supposed to be creative. It's I pretty interesting thing to image.

I know that there would be no seasons on Earth, because they are caused by the Earth's tilt. Day length would not fluctuate throughout the year, the poles would not have radical 24-hours days or 24-nights. It would pretty much be like every day was an equinox.

OK, but what about solar insulation? I don't want to get off topic.

Any advice or hypotheses? Could life on earth survive? How would Temperatures be effected at the equator, at mid latitudes regions, at the poles, or for the whole world?

Answer 1

You have answered your own question.



The only effect would be no seasons.

I have no idea what solar insulation is.



Earth would be pretty much unchanged.

Temperatures would not change at all near the equator. The day would be 12 hours long every day.



But since there would be no seasons, days and nights would be equal in length at all latitudes.

It would be like having perpetual Spring Time. It would never become summer or winter, because every day would be exactly 12 hours long.



And that also applies all the way up to the north pole (and the south pole).

Except, right at each pole, the sun would be forever on the horizon, in a permanent sunrise / sunset.

Answer 2

The days and nights being equal all through the year, nay year after year one never knows the year beginning or ending; unless looks up at the stars. Moon will dominate the calender with stars as her ministers.The real magic of life drawn out from our lives in the absence of seasons. The Sun will lose his Royal status.

The planetary wind system will have drastic changes. The onshore winds and off shore winds will become more important. Monsoons, Hurricanes, Typhoons may not be as there is no pooling up of energy over a time.

The Cells of equatorial Lows , Sub tropical High and Polar High and the like will suffer quantitative changes.

The Jet streams will gain a new dimension and perhaps atmospheric circulation will tend to be more on Jupiter pattern.

The INSOLATION [Incoming Solar Radiation, not insulation] will be almost the same all 365 days at given latitude. Hence the Thermal gradient will be steeper from equator to poles, and as such the pressure cells suffer quantitative changes.

There can not be different crops as no seasonal changes, so impact on agriculture & crop rotations.

Life will survive, as there is the regular supply of energy for photosynthesis hence food production will go on. But even with Ocean current system undergoing changes there will be new dimension added to the life over all. The Sargasso's sea may not remain. By and large the torrid and tropical zones will be the least affected. The Temperate zone and the Polar zone will be he most affected areas. The polar bear will forget Hybernation.The tropical frog will no more aestivate. No transpolar migration of Arctic Terns. The tropics no longer will have the Siberian crane visiting them in winters.Too much exposure to light and heat of Sun is not healthy. The Sandy beaches will become less attractive too.

How did you get this topic? Please brush it off as a bad dream. Thanks.

Answer 3

I think everyone forgot that there would be waaaaaaaaay more water on Earth. Since the extremities of winter would never come to the poles, then they would continuously stay at a higher temperature then they are now. And the Artic Line where ocean water would freeze would be closer to the poles. It wouldn't be as bad as Water World but the shape in landmasses would be very different. Plus life on earth would be very very different. Since no creature would have to evolve to adjust to the dramatic changes of seasons. Biodiversity would be very low that's for sure since there is no need for massive adaptation.

Answer 4

It would always be spring in every part of the world and there would always be 12 hours of daylight and twelve hours of night. The weather patterns would also be completely different and tides would probably come in more.

Answer 5

No more seasons.

Answer 6

we would all die.