
Spring
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.