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Post by GregR on Jun 20, 2013 14:12:49 GMT -8
Tomorrow, June 21 at 1:04 am Eastern Daylight Time the Sun's direct rays will reach the farthest north they ever reach, 23.5 degrees N. If you were standing outside tomorrow, say in Ciudad Victoria in Mexico at noon, the sun would be directly overhead. The next day at the same time, solar noon, the sun would have moved imperceptibly southward - signifying the waning of the sun's rays in the Northern Hemisphere and it's slow, inexorable return to the Southern Hemisphere, crossing the Equator in late September. Even though I know the hottest part of the summer is still ahead, I will celebrate the longest day of the year not for it's length, but for what it signifies - the eventual return of my favorite time of year in 4 or 5 months.
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Post by sananmitch on Jun 30, 2013 13:10:30 GMT -8
I always celebrate Summer Solstice for that very reason. If I can make it to the solstice, I will be OK - even though the worst heat is yet to come in north Texas.
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Post by sananmitch on Jun 30, 2013 13:22:01 GMT -8
I should say that, where I live, it doesn't really cool down until late September or early October - and it doesn't get actually chilly until late October, usually. Yet, I will begin to sense the change in daylight sometime in August - when we are almost always still dealing with days and days of over 100 degree temps. Somehow, even in the heat that I HATE, HATE, HATE, I will begin to feel a sense of hope - I can feel the change coming at that point. It will just hit me every now and then - Fall is coming. I know that is completely related to the length of the days.
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Post by created14u2 on Jul 29, 2013 6:08:09 GMT -8
Hi Greg, I just wanted to say that you have a really great point here that puts things into perspective. After the Summer Solstice, you are absolutely correct about the sun's movement. By now, July 29th, the sun's intensity is not as strong and the nights are cooler- sun setting earlier and earlier. Not to say that we may have a heat wave again. However, this summer, especially in Chicago, the weekend of July 27th-28th was more like early October with highs in the 50's to 60's and cloudy. It was the best thing ever. Many people in the Great Lakes area are complaining about their "cheated" summer, but with those of us who suffer badly from Summer Depression, this is big break from the heat in many years. Thank you very much for sharing that great piece of information and for reading this blog. Erik
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