Spring

Spring is one of the four seasons of the year. In the Northern Hemisphere, it generally extends from the March equinox to the June solstice, while in the Southern Hemisphere it occurs at the opposite time of year. The exact dates of the equinoxes and solstices vary slightly from year to year. Spring begins with the March equinox in the astronomical calendar, when day and night are approximately equal in length.

The season then continues as Earth's position in its orbit changes and the distribution of sunlight between the hemispheres gradually shifts. This change in sunlight, combined with local climate and weather patterns, influences temperatures, plants, and animals. Spring should therefore not be understood simply as a period that is warm everywhere.

As daylight becomes longer in the Northern Hemisphere after the March equinox, many plants begin new growth. Trees may produce leaves and flowers, while numerous animals become more active, reproduce, or raise their young. The timing of these events depends on species, latitude, altitude, and local conditions, so spring does not look or feel the same everywhere.

In some regions, snow may remain on the ground well into the season; in others, temperatures rise quickly. Spring is also an important period for agriculture because increasing temperatures and changing daylight affect when crops can be planted and how they develop. The familiar changes associated with spring are therefore the result of several interacting factors, especially Earth's orbit, the seasonal distribution of sunlight, and regional climate.