Expert: Jayendra Upadhye - 8/20/2005

Question
I was just wondering if you could give me a simple  explanation what the earth would be like weather wise if it weren't tilted?
Thanks in advance.

Lady Rain

Answer
Hi Lady Rain,
Sorry for the very very late answer, i was away in India and could not get net access.
Here is teh answer.
There would be a number of effects.
1 - There would be no advance and regression of the "monsoon" to the tropics.
2 - There would be a fixed "season" all year round depending on your latitude.
3 - The plants and animals would evolve quite differently. Afterall all living things are governed by cycles..cycles of mating, eating, sleeping even, all dependent on these factors such as daylight hours, and seasons. Trees that bloom seasonally would not evolve as they have done now.
4 - There would be no seasonal fruits.
5 - The great migrations of the salmon would not be there, as these are triggered by seasonal changes in salinity and temperature of their habitat.
6 - The dinosaurs themselves would never have set up the old migratory traits still followed by mammals and birds.
7 - Thus the transcontinental migrations of the cuckoo and the cranes would not come about.
The trickle down effect of such a "big" ecological factor would be collossal.
8 - The hibernating bear and frog would not be there too!
Think about all that!
9 - The earth would be forever locked in a scenario where the equatorial regions would be drenched in rain and the tropics and polar regions would be rain free!
10 - Atmospheric precipitation in the form of ice would yield large ice caps that would advance well into the tropical areas, thus locking up vast quantity of the earth's ocean waters. Reducing ocean levels by about 300 meters.
Thus it appears even nature is a firm believer in the old adage "(seasonal) variety is the spice of life"!
Jayen