Winter is the coldest season because the Earth's axis is tilted away from the sun. This means that the sun's rays hit the Earth at a shallower angle, and less sunlight reaches the surface. The sunlight that does reach the surface is also spread out over a larger area, which further reduces the amount of heat that is received.

The relationship between population increase and climate change is complex and not fully understood. However, it is believed that the increasing human population is contributing to climate change in a number of ways. These include:

• The burning of fossil fuels, which releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
• Deforestation, which reduces the amount of trees that absorb carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
• Increased agricultural production, which requires more land and water, and also releases greenhouse gases.

Climate change is causing the Earth's climate to become warmer, which is leading to more extreme weather events, such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. These events can have a devastating impact on human health, infrastructure, and the environment.

The relationship between population increase and climate change is a major challenge facing the world today. It is important to find ways to reduce our reliance on fossil fuels, protect forests, and develop sustainable agricultural practices. We also need to invest in research and development to find new ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.

In addition to the above, the following are some other factors that can contribute to colder winters:

• The presence of snow and ice, which reflects sunlight back into space.
• The amount of cloud cover, which can block sunlight from reaching the Earth's surface.
• The wind, which can help to distribute heat unevenly.

The relationship between population increase and climate change is a complex issue that is still being studied by scientists. However, it is clear that human activity is having a significant impact on the Earth's climate. We need to take action to reduce our emissions of greenhouse gases and mitigate the effects of climate change.

Dr Murtadha Shukur thank you for your contribution to the discussion

Winter is the coldest season in many parts of the world because of the Earth's axial tilt and its orbit around the Sun. This seasonal variation in temperature is due to the changing angle at which sunlight reaches different parts of the Earth's surface. Here's how it works:

Now, regarding the relationship between population increase and climate change:

1. Population Growth: The world's population has been steadily increasing over the decades, leading to increased demands for resources, energy, and food. This population growth can have several impacts on climate change:

• Energy Consumption: A larger population typically results in increased energy consumption, especially in urban areas. If this energy comes from fossil fuels, it can lead to higher greenhouse gas emissions, contributing to global warming.
• Deforestation: As the population expands, there is often a need for more land for agriculture, housing, and infrastructure. This can lead to deforestation, which reduces the planet's capacity to absorb carbon dioxide, a major greenhouse gas.
• Agricultural Practices: To feed a growing population, agricultural practices often intensify, which can result in increased emissions of methane (a potent greenhouse gas) from livestock and rice paddies.

2. Urbanization: As populations grow, more people move to urban areas. Urbanization can result in increased energy consumption, transportation emissions, and changes in land use patterns, all of which can affect local and regional climates.

3. Consumption Patterns: A larger population often leads to increased consumption of goods and services, which can result in greater resource extraction, manufacturing emissions, and waste generation. All of these factors can contribute to climate change.

It's important to note that while population growth is a significant factor in climate change, it is not the only one. Technological advancements, changes in energy sources, policy decisions, and individual behaviors also play critical roles in determining the extent of greenhouse gas emissions and their impact on the climate. Addressing climate change requires a combination of efforts, including sustainable resource management, renewable energy adoption, and emissions reduction strategies, in addition to addressing population-related challenges.

Dr Gaurav H Tandon thank you for your contribution to the discussion

The amount of energy we receive from the Sun is smaller and the amount of energy that the Earth loses from the areas experiencing the winter is larger. The culprit in both cases is the Earth! Or, to be more precise, the way that the Earth's axis is tilted (around 23.5 degrees) from the orbital plane around the Sun. The air can be very cold on a sunny day due to the sun not having enough time to significantly modify the air yet. In winter, cold air is more difficult for the sun to modify (especially between high mid-latitudes and the poles) since the sun angle is low and days are short. During our winter the sun angle is lowest as the northern hemisphere is tilted away from the sun. This is when the sun appears the lowest in the sky, our days are shorter, and therefore our temperatures are colder. When the sun's rays strike Earth's surface near the equator, the incoming solar radiation is more direct (nearly perpendicular or closer to a 90˚ angle). Therefore, the solar radiation is concentrated over a smaller surface area, causing warmer temperatures. Most people believe the sun's rays aren't powerful enough to cause damage in winter months. This is false. While the UV index, the scale used to measure power of the sun's ultraviolet rays at a given time and place, is lower in winter, the sun is still powerful enough to damage your skin. If the Sun is directly overhead (the angle of incidence of the Sun's rays to the surface is 90°), the shadow is of minimum size, and the sunlight is concentrated into a small area, the maximum amount of heating takes place, and higher temperatures result. Throughout the year, different parts of Earth receive the Sun's most direct rays. So, when the North Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's summer in the Northern Hemisphere. And when the South Pole tilts toward the Sun, it's winter in the Northern Hemisphere. Sunlight that strikes the Earth directly heats the surface more than sunlight that strikes at an angle. The steeper the angle, the less solar radiation can be absorbed. Over millions of years, changes in the location of land and oceans can alter how much light is absorbed or reflected by the surface of the Earth. But besides the sunrise, sun-angle also changes how we experience our day-to-day. As the sun angle rises, spring snow is more easily melted by the harsher sun angle. You will also notice that you are going to have to start wearing sunscreen. It is easier to get sunburned due to rising sun angles.As well as driving emissions, population growth is also important because it affects the Earth's ability to withstand climate change and absorb emissions, such as through deforestation as land is converted for agricultural use to feed a growing human population.No simple relationship exists between population size and environmental change. However, as global population continues to grow, limits on such global resources as arable land, potable water, forests, and fisheries have come into sharper focus. Overpopulation of the earth is a major problem on its own, but it also leads directly to other serious environmental impacts. One of those issues is overconsumption, especially of single-use products that damage the environment, slow the ability of the earth to renew its resources, and contribute to climate change. Population growth is projected to reach almost 10 billion people by 2060. Almost by definition, this will have a strong effect on global emissions: More people consume more resources, emit more greenhouse gases and require larger-scale food production, all of which exacerbate emission levels and rising temperatures.