During which season is the solar altitude typically highest?

The solar altitude is typically highest during the summer season due to the tilt of the Earth's axis. As the Earth orbits the sun, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun during the summer months, resulting in more direct sunlight and a higher solar altitude. This means that the sun appears higher in the sky at noon, leading to increased solar energy and warmer temperatures.

In contrast, during winter, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun, resulting in a lower solar altitude and less direct sunlight, which contributes to cooler temperatures. Spring and autumn also experience varying solar altitudes, but neither season reaches the same height as in the peak of summer due to the position of the Earth relative to the sun during these transitional periods. Therefore, summer is distinctly characterized by the highest solar altitude, making it the correct answer.