Context:
The longest day of the year, for anyone living north of the Equator, is June 21. The day is referred to as the summer solstice, and it occurs when the sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer, or more specifically right over 23.5 degrees north latitude.
Relevance:
GS I- Geography
Dimensions of the Article:
- About Summer Solstice
- Why do we have summer solstice?
About Summer Solstice
- In Latin, solstice means “the sun stands motionless”
- For those residing north of the Equator, June 21 will be the longest day of the year in 2021.
- This day is distinguished by a higher amount of solar energy received.
- This day is known as the summer solstice in technical terms, as it is the longest day of the summer season. It happens when the sun is directly above the Tropic of Cancer, or more precisely, when the sun is directly overhead 23.5 degrees north latitude.
- The Southern Hemisphere receives most sunlight on December 21, 22 or 23 when the northern hemisphere has its longest nights– or the winter solstice.
Why do we have summer solstice?
- Since Earth rotates on its axis, the Northern Hemisphere gets more direct sunlight between March and September over the course of a day.
- This also means people living in the Northern Hemisphere experience summer during this time.
- The rest of the year, the Southern Hemisphere gets more sunlight.
- During the solstice, the Earth’s axis — around which the planet spins, completing one turn each day — is tilted in a way that the North Pole is tipped towards the sun and the South Pole is away from it.
Source: Indian Express
