Why does the Sun still "burn" the Earth even though it is at its farthest point?

(Dan Tri) - The Earth has just reached its farthest point from the Sun in its orbit in a phenomenon called aphelion. However, many areas still record extremely high temperatures.

Many areas in the US and Europe are experiencing intense heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 38°C (Photo: Getty).

On July 3rd, Earth reached its furthest point in its orbit around the Sun. This is known as aphelion . At this time, the distance between the two celestial bodies reached 152.1 million kilometers, which is 4.98 million kilometers farther than at perihelion in early January.

Paradoxically, despite being furthest from the sun, the Northern Hemisphere is experiencing intense heatwaves, with temperatures exceeding 38°C in many areas, including North America and Europe.

This phenomenon is not an error in the meteorological system, but rather a prime example of the dominant role that the Earth's axial tilt plays in climate.

Many people believe that the distance from the Earth to the Sun is the primary factor determining seasons and temperature. However, what actually creates seasonal climate variation is the Earth's 23.5-degree axial tilt.

Specifically, when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the Sun in June and July, the Sun is higher in the sky, its rays shine nearly perpendicular to the ground, and daylight hours are longer, increasing the amount of heat absorbed each day.

Conversely, in December and January, although the Earth is closer to the Sun, the rays are at a greater angle and the days are shorter, making the Northern Hemisphere colder.

According to reports in the US, on the summer solstice, June 20th, the direct angle of sunlight causes some cities to receive three times more heat than on the winter solstice, December 21st. That's why July, even though the Earth is farther from the heat source, is still the hottest month in many places in the Northern Hemisphere.

From an astrophysical perspective, as the Earth moves farther from the Sun, it also slows down according to Kepler's second law. Specifically, its current orbital velocity is only about 29 km/s, a decrease from over 30 km/s when it was closest to the Sun.

This contributes to extending summer in the Northern Hemisphere. Although sunlight is about 6.55% dimmer at this time, the effect of the axial tilt completely outweighs this slight reduction.

This explanation also helps correct a common misconception: the seasons do not depend on distance from the sun, but on the tilt of the axis of rotation.

More broadly, the uneven distribution of heat is also influenced by atmospheric factors, the ratio of land to ocean area, and the worsening phenomenon of global warming.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/khoa-hoc/vi-sao-mat-troi-van-thieu-dot-trai-dat-du-dang-o-diem-xa-nhat-20250704072816259.htm