This Thursday (June 20), everyone in the northern half of the planet will experience the summer solstice, the longest day of the year north of the Equator.
The Earth has a solstice every six months, in June and December. Before the summer solstice, the sun appears at a higher point in the sky at the same time every day until it reaches its maximum point.
After the summer solstice, the days will get shorter. The sun will appear lower in the sky every day until the winter solstice on December 21.
What time is the summer solstice this year?
According to the National Weather Service, the summer solstice will occur on Thursday at 4:51 PM (Eastern Time). This is the moment of the day when the sun reaches its furthest north point in the sky for the year.
Why do we have solstices?
The height of the sun in the sky changes every day because the Earth rotates on an axis tilted 23.5 degrees from vertical. This means that, depending on the time of year, the hemispheres tilt toward or away from the sun.
This is what gives the Earth its seasons: when the northern half of the planet tilts toward the sun, it experiences summer; at the same time, the southern half of the planet tilts away from the sun and is in winter. It remains a mystery why the Earth is tilted this way, although some astronomers believe that its tilt paved the way for the existence of life.
In the Northern Hemisphere, the summer solstice occurs when the tilt of the Earth toward the sun is greatest. Despite this, the warmest temperatures of the year often occur a few weeks later, in July or August, because it takes time for the sun’s rays to warm our planet.
What to expect from summer this year in the U.S.?
A hotter than normal summer is likely in the U.S. this year and in many other parts of the globe, according to new forecasts and scientific research.
The way climate change is altering the character of American summers is becoming increasingly evident.
Over the past few decades, summers have been warming in the U.S., with Austin, Texas, for example, now seeing an average of 47 additional days of 100°F or higher temperatures than the city saw in 1970.
Many other cities have recorded similar jumps in days with temperatures in the 90°F range, along with a greater trend toward longer, hotter, and more humid heat waves.
Source: The New York Times and Axios