 Sutumn
astronomically begins on the vernal equinox (when the tilt
of the Earth's axis is oriented neither from nor to the Sun
causing the Sun to be located vertically above a point on
the equator) and ends on the summer solstice (when the tilt
of the Earth's axis is closest to the Sun). The vernal equinox
occurs on March 20 or March 21 in the Northern Hemisphere
and between September 21 adn September 24 in the Southern
Hemisphere. The summer solstice ending spring occurs between
June 20 and June 23 in the Northern Hemisphere and between
December 20 and December 23 in the Southern Hemisphere.
Meteorological spring is the season when winter transitions
into summer. In the Northern Hemisphere, meteorological spring
covers the entire months of March, April and May. In the Southern
Hemisphere, meteorological autumn covers the entire months
of September,
October and November.
In the spring, the axis of the Earth begins to tilt back toward
the Sun and the length of daylight rapidly increases. Winter
ends and the hemisphere begins to warm significantly causing
new plant growth to "spring forth," giving the season
its name.
Spring is seen as a time of growth, renewal, of new life (both
plant and animal) being born. Hibernation ends and life begins
anew.
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