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SUMMER SOLSTICE: 21ST JUNE - Shanmugam IAS Academy In Coimbatore

Jun 22, 2022

SUMMER SOLSTICE: 21ST JUNE

Why in News?

21st June is the day of the Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere.

About

Solstice is a Latin word that means ‘stalled sun’. It is a natural phenomenon that occurs twice every year, once in the summer and again during winter, in each hemisphere of the earth - Summer and Winter Solstice.
It is the longest day and shortest night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere.
During this, countries in the Northern Hemisphere are nearest to the Sun and the Sun shines overhead on the Tropic of Cancer (23.5° North).
At latitudes of 23.5° are the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, north and south of the Equator.
At 66.5° are the Arctic and Antarctic Circles, to the north and south.
Latitudes are a measure of a location’s distance from the Equator.
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.
Typically, this imaginary axis passes right through the middle of the Earth from top to bottom and is always tilted at 23.5 degrees with respect to the sun.

Greater Amount of Energy:

This day is characterised by a greater amount of energy received from the sun. According to NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), the amount of incoming energy the Earth received from the sun on this day is 30% higher at the North Pole than at the Equator.
The maximum amount of sunlight received by the Northern Hemisphere during this time is usually on June 20, 21 or 22. In contrast, the Southern Hemisphere receives most sunlight on December 21, 22 or 23 when the northern hemisphere has its longest nights– or the winter solstice.

What is the Geography Behind the Solstice?

The reason behind it is the changing lengths of the days is the Earth’s tilt.
The Earth’s axis of rotation is tilted at an angle of 23.5° to its orbital plane. This tilt, combined with factors such as Earth’s spin and orbit, leads to variations in the duration of sunlight, due to which any location on the planet receives different lengths of days.
The Northern Hemisphere spends half the year tilted in the direction of the Sun, getting direct sunlight during long summer days. During the other half of the year, it tilts away from the Sun, and the days are shorter.
The tilt is also responsible for the different seasons on Earth. This phenomenon causes the movement of the Sun from the northern to the southern hemisphere and vice versa bringing in seasonal changes in the year.

FAQ

GeeksforGeeks

Is June 21 always the summer solstice?

The timing of the June solstice is not based on a specific calendar date or time; it all depends on when the sun reaches its northernmost point from the celestial equator. Therefore, the winter solstice does not always occur on the same day. Currently, it transitions between June 20th, 21st and 22nd.

Why 21st June is called summer solstice?

The summer solstice occurs when the Earth tilts most toward the sun during its orbit. Therefore, on the summer solstice (June 21), the sun appears at its highest altitude. According to India Standard Time (IST), the astronomical event will take place at 2.43pm.

Why is the summer solstice important?

June 21, 2022, is the longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere – which also marks the official start of summer. That day is one of the most celebrated days in the world and is often referred to as the summer solstice.