It is Earth’s relationship to the sun, and the amount of light it receives, that is responsible for the seasons and biodiversity. The amount of sun a region receives depends on the tilt of Earth’s axis and not its distance from the sun. The Northern Hemisphere experiences summer during the months of June, July, and August because it is tilted toward the sun and receives the most direct sunlight. Inversely, summer for the Southern Hemisphere takes place during the months of December, January, and February because that is when it receives the most direct sunlight.