![]() This provides the most direct solar radiation of the year, resulting in more heating of the Earth’s surface and, therefore, warmer temperatures. local time due to daylight saving time) on the summer solstice. The sun reaches its highest and northernmost point in the sky at solar noon (around 1 p.m. In the summer, the sun rises in the northeastern sky and sets in the northwestern sky, providing long days and short nights. Therefore, everywhere on Earth experiences an equal 12 hours of daylight and darkness because the sun rises due east and sets due west. On the vernal equinox in March and the autumnal equinox in September, the equator (0 degrees latitude) is aligned directly with the sun. ![]() LA NIÑA IS OVER AND EL NIÑO COULD BE ON THE WAY, FORECASTERS SAY On June's summer solstice, the most direct rays of sunlight are in alignment with the Tropic of Cancer (23.5 degrees north latitude). Winter is considered December, January and February spring is March through May summer is June through August and fall or autumn is September through November.On the winter solstice in December, the sun's most direct rays are positioned over the Tropic of Capricorn (23.5 degrees south latitude). This rotation allows us to experience day and night.Ĭlimatologists usually use full months to represent the seasons. In addition to revolving around the sun, the earth rotates counter-clockwise on its own axis. The Northern Hemisphere gradually receives less of the sun’s rays over time and also experiences less daylight hours. ![]() The autumnal equinox marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern Hemisphere. As time passes, the Northern Hemisphere gradually receives more of the sun’s rays and also experiences longer daylight hours. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of astronomical spring for the Northern Hemisphere and the beginning of astronomical fall for the Southern Hemisphere. There are two types of equinoxes that occur: the vernal and the autumnal. The equinox occurs when the sun is directly focused on the earth’s equator and causes 12 hours of daytime hours and 12 hours of nighttime hours across the entire earth (in Latin, equinox means equal night). What usually marks the occurrence of spring and fall astronomically is the equinox. Image from NOAA Spring and Fall Equinoxĭuring spring and fall, the earth is in a transition phase. Title of the Earth and Northern Hemisphere Solstice Dates. ![]() During these months, the Southern Hemisphere experiences summer! This insolation is the primary driver of the climate system. The amount of solar radiation incident on the top of the atmosphere (what we call the insolation) depends on. This means that in June, July, and August, when we see our summer heat in North Carolina, the Southern Hemisphere is actually experiencing winter! When we experience winter in the Northern Hemisphere (December, January, and February), it’s because the Northern Hemisphere is tilted away from the sun and receives less radiation. These notes closely follow section 2.7 of Global Physical Climatology by Hartmann. In the Northern Hemisphere, these are the longest and shortest days of the year, respectively. The date at which the Earth’s tilt points most directly toward the Sun is called the summer solstice, and, conversely, the date at the Earth’s tilt points most directly away the Sun is called the winter solstice. North Carolina experiences all four seasons (spring, summer, fall, and winter) and we have the tilt of the Earth to thank for this! In the Northern Hemisphere summer, for example, the Earth is tilted towards the sun, meaning that the Northern Hemisphere receives more incoming radiation (and solar heating) than the Southern Hemisphere, which is tilted away from the sun.
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