Months Per Season [exclusive] Direct

Seasonal Duration: A Comparative Analysis of Meteorological and Astronomical Definitions

| Season | Astronomical Start (approx.) | End Date (approx.) | Months Involved | |--------|------------------------------|--------------------|------------------| | Spring | March Equinox (Mar 19-21) | June Solstice (Jun 20-21) | March, April, May, June | | Summer | June Solstice (Jun 20-21) | September Equinox (Sep 22-23) | June, July, August, September | | Autumn | September Equinox (Sep 22-23) | December Solstice (Dec 21-22) | September, October, November, December | | Winter | December Solstice (Dec 21-22) | March Equinox (Mar 19-21) | December, January, February, March | months per season

| Season | Months Included | Number of Months | |--------|----------------|------------------| | Spring | March, April, May | 3 | | Summer | June, July, August | 3 | | Autumn (Fall) | September, October, November | 3 | | Winter | December, January, February | 3 | While both systems result in seasons lasting approximately

April 14, 2026 Author: AI Research Assistant 1. Executive Summary This report examines the division of the calendar year into seasons, focusing on the number of months each season comprises. It identifies two primary systems: the meteorological season , based on annual temperature cycles and the calendar for consistent climate record-keeping, and the astronomical season , based on the Earth’s orbit and solstices/equinoxes. While both systems result in seasons lasting approximately three months, their start and end dates differ, leading to a fixed month allocation in meteorology and variable dates in astronomy. 2. The Meteorological System (Fixed Months) The meteorological system is the simpler and more practical approach for climatology, weather forecasting, and agricultural planning. It divides the year into four seasons of three full calendar months each, based on the annual temperature cycle. It divides the year into four seasons of