Due to the low temperatures, and depending on the latitude and altitude, it is common for snow to fall in winter.
The etymological origin of the term winter is found in Latin. Specifically, it emanates from hibernus , which means "related to winter" and which, in turn, emanates from hiems which can be translated as "cold."
Winter is the season of the year when the lowest temperatures are recorded. At an astronomical level, it begins with the winter solstice and ends with the spring equinox .
In the northern hemisphere , winter runs from December 21 to March 21 , when spring begins. In the southern hemisphere , however, it starts on June 21 and runs until September 21 . These dates , however, may vary slightly depending on the year.
Winter, the coldest season
Compared to the rest of the seasons , in winter it is colder and the days are shorter (the hours of sunlight are fewer; that is, it falls earlier and rises later). The further we get from the tropics, the more pronounced winters we will find.
Depending on weather conditions, altitude and latitude, snowfall may occur in winter. Many regions, in fact, are covered in white during this season, and - due to the low temperatures - lakes, rivers, etc. can even freeze.
Skiing is one of the most popular winter sports.
Data of interest
Other interesting facts about winter are the following:
– When this season takes place in the northern hemisphere, the Earth is closer to the sun.
– Various scientific studies have shown that during winter it is more common for citizens to suffer from headaches. Likewise, it is indicated that your creativity also "increases" and that you may even feel more susceptible. And to that we must add psychological effects such as greater risks of suffering from depression or even lower sexual desire.
– During winter it usually happens that people have lower levels of vitamin D in their body.
– The coldest town in the world during winter is considered to be Oymyakon . This is located in Russia and the data that has been recorded so far in terms of temperatures indicates that on two occasions it has reached -71.2º C. However, the lowest temperature recorded on the entire planet was -93.2º C in 2010 in an area of Antarctica , specifically on its East Antarctic Plateau .
– Many animals see their lives “affected” during the winter. A good example of this is that many opt for carrying out migration and others, however, opt for the so-called hibernation.
– It should be noted that in the equator area the four seasons are not well marked. That is why winter is associated with the rainy season that lasts about six months.
The nuclear winter
The theory of nuclear winter , on the other hand, refers to a phenomenon that would occur if several atomic bombs were dropped on the planet. The concept, which began to be developed during the Cold War, maintains that nuclear bombs would generate a large cloud of dust that would be present in the atmosphere for months.
This dust would prevent the passage of sunlight, causing the death of the plants that carry out photosynthesis. Without plants, herbivorous animals would also die and, by extension, all living beings would be affected. Nuclear winter also contemplates the air becoming unbreathable due to pollution.