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Driving around at this time of year, I get to wondering why low sun in the mornings and evenings is so much more noticeable than when it's at the same elevation at other times of year. I realise it will be a bit earlier or later, and perhaps less coincident with normal travel times, but I'm sure it's never this bright when low during the summer, even though it should be stronger. Shouldn't it..?
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I think we need a meteorologist to answer that one.
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An astronmer will do! Not Me BTW. It defies all logic but the Earth is actually nearer the sun in Winter than in the Summer.
On January 3, perihelion, the Earth is closest to the Sun (147.3 million km). The Earth is furthest from the Sun on July 4, or aphelion (152.1 million km). The average distance of the Earth from the Sun over a one-year period is about 149.6 million km.
Might there be a connection to brightness mentioned?
Last edited by: VxFan on Tue 12 Oct 10 at 10:33
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Perhaps because it is lower in the sky for longer periods of the day?
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Stu's about right and here's why. The sun's apparent path across the sky is a parabola, whose gradient is least - i.e. flattest - near its apex. In the sunny half of the year, that apex occurs high in the sky, so we seldom notice it; in the winter, it's much closer to the horizon, so we do. The sun's path doesn't change - we just see a smaller segment of it, lower in the sky.
In contrast, at the equator, the sun sinks vertically below the horizon, which gives a shockingly rapid (to those from higher latitudes) transition from light to dark, at the same time every day.
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When the sun is in your eyes in October, you are driving to work. In the same position in June, you are fast asleep.
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And whatever you do don't live roughly south west of where you work... I get blinded in the mornings and the same on the way home when the sun's going down!!
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Have you considered the night shift, Hobby?
};---)
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Most of the time I'm ok because I'll be going into work in the afternoon or before the sun rises (the joys of railway shift work!), but when I worked a 9-5 job it was a real pain! :-)
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Last time I was knocked off my (push-)bike was when low level sun behind me dazzled the driver who pulled out of a T-junction right in front of me. Fortunately I went right over his MGTF's bonnet without damaging it :)
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May be also there is more heat haze in Summer, to diffuse the light? The dazzle seems especially bad in cold, clear, crisp weather.
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>>The dazzle seems especially bad in cold, clear, crisp weather.
>>
I agree with that, see my post in the "Motorway, Spray, and Lights." thread.
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i lost a car 10 years ago when low sun caused a motorcyclist to rearrange the rear end
hate early november mornings for this very reason unfortunately
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>> It defies all logic but the Earth is
>> actually nearer the sun in Winter than in the Summer.
>>
No it doesn't. When it is Winter in the Northern Hemisphere, don't forget that it is Summer in the Southern.
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It's a right pain takes the washing much longer to dry till it gets round to my boxers come on summer woo hoo.!
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have you ever noticed how large the moon looks just after it appears above the horizon on clear nights but appears to shrink as it gets higher in the sky? Apparently thats an optical illusion as you have buildings and other objects as reference points at low position and nothing to compare it to at its high position....its all in the mind
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Our roadpoints directly at the Sun these mornings. Plus a small rise at the end to meet the main road on it's slope up to the railway bridge.
I had a customer park his Spitfire opposite ready for service and MOT in the morning.
At about 8am I was looking at the car across thye road when a Viva rear ended it at some speed.
The driver did a steamy several point turn and cleared off the other way.
It was reported stolen...within half an hour !
Swine !
Ted
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>> An astronmer will do! Not Me BTW. It defies all logic but the Earth is
>> actually nearer the sun in Winter than in the Summer.
>>
PP - I'm not sure it defies logic, in fact you describe the Earth's orbit quite eloquently ! The path that the Earth takes around the Sun is an Ellipse.
IIRC the Earth is also tilted on its axis by 23.5Deg so the amount of sunlight (insolation) we get varies throughout the year / circuit of this orbit and this gives us our seasons.
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And the visors installed in the majority of cars are as useful as a chocolate teapot when its like this.
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The current conditions make a good pair of 'shades' and an impeccably clean windscreen (inside and out) absolutely essential.
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Wearing a sunglass may be helpful.
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In Movi's defence he has previously mentioned that English is not his first language. Apparently when I write emails in Italian or German they circulate them round the office to amuse the other staff at break times ! Keep your posts coming Movi, we know what you mean !
:-)
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I am guessing that it is a combination/balance of being close to the sun in the winter (good thing) but tilted away from it (bad thing) and the result is that brass monkeys wear thick undergarments, during the Northern winter.
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>> On January 3, perihelion, the Earth is closest to the Sun (147.3 million km). The
>> Earth is furthest from the Sun on July 4, or aphelion (152.1 million km). The
>> average distance of the Earth from the Sun over a one-year period is about 149.6
>> million km.
>>
Please can we have it in MILES................Please.
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91,527,976 miles or 29,288,952,500, rods poles or perches for the rural dwellers
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>> Please can we have it in MILES................Please.
>>
Is it really that hard to imagine the distances involved because metric units are used ? Admittedly SI units would be more "proper", should quote it in metres really....
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Low sun - L'escargot
