Astronomical seasons are based on the position of Earth in relation to the Sun. Astronomical winter begins at the winter solstice and ends at the spring equinox.There is not a black-and-white answer to this question-it depends on which definition of “winter” you follow: In the United States, the coldest days of the year tend to occur between mid-December and late January, so while it’s certainly possible that the coldest day of the year could also be the day of the winter solstice, that’s not usually the case! IS THE WINTER SOLSTICE REALLY THE START OF WINTER? Because of these factors, it’s not possible to point to the same date year after year and call it the coldest day. Snow cover, for example, partially blocks solar radiation from being absorbed by the Earth, which results in less heat being released and an overall drop in temperature. There are a lot of factors that affect the temperature of a location on any given day, including altitude, snow cover, and large-scale weather patterns. Logically, it would make sense to assume that this is also the coldest day of the year, since we are exposed to less warmth-giving sunlight on this day than at any other time. The day of the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year, which means that it’s the day in which we experience the least amount of daylight. Equinox means “equal” and the days and night are of equal length.ĬOMMON QUESTIONS ABOUT THE WINTER SOLSTICE THE WINTER SOLSTICE IS THE SHORTEST DAY OF THE YEAR. You may also be familiar with the term “equinox.” In the spring (March) and the fall (September), the Sun’s path bring it directly above the equator. The summer solstice is the longest day of the year (the day with the most daylight hours) and marks the beginning of summer. When we reach the summer solstice on June 20, 21, or 22, the Sun will reach its most northernly spot, directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. The solstice brings the return of more sunlight. Observe the changing day length in your area with our Sunrise and Sunset Times Calculator. The change in its noontime elevation is so slight that the Sun’s path seems to stay the same, or stand still.Īs summer advances to winter, the points on the horizon where the Sun rises and sets will advance southward each day the high point in the Sun’s daily path across the sky, which occurs at local noon, also moves southward each day. The word solstice comes from Latin sol “sun” and sistere “to stand still.” So, loosely translated, it means “sun stand still.” For a few days before and after the solstice, the Sun appears to stand still in the sky. The next day, the path will begin to advance northward. The Sun is directly overhead at “high-noon” on the solstice at the latitude called the Tropic of Capricorn.
WHAT HAPPENS ON THE WINTER SOLSTICE?Īt the winter solstice, the Sun appears at its most southerly point. *Due to time zone differences, this solstice will technically occur on the next day in some regions. (In the Southern Hemisphere, the winter solstice occurs around June 20 or 21.) It is the day with the fewest hours of sunlight in the whole year. In the Northern Hemisphere, the winter solstice always occurs around December 21 or 22. EST, marking the first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere. In 2020, the winter solstice arrives on Monday, December 21, 5:02 A.M. What happens at the winter solstice? Why is the solstice important? Enjoy solstice facts and folklore from The Old Farmer’s Almanac.
This is the astronomical first day of winter in the Northern Hemisphere and the shortest day of the year. The winter solstice is Monday, December 21, 2020. WINTER SOLSTICE DATE, FACTS, FOLKLORE, AND MORE
0 kommentar(er)
