Scientists have noted that at present the earth is closest to the sun in january and farthest from the sun in july. the reverse will be true in 13,000 years and the earth will then be closer to the sun in july than january. how would this change affect the climate in the northern hemisphere? winters would be cooler and summers warmer because of the closer proximity of the earth to the sun. winters would be warmer and summers cooler because of the closer proximity of the earth to the sun. winters would be shorter and summers longer because of the closer proximity of the earth to the sun. winters would be longer and summers shorter because of the closer proximity of the earth to the sun.