• picture
  • picture
  • picture
  • picture
Public Radio's Environmental News Magazine (follow us on Google News)

The Living on Earth Almanac

Air Date: Week of

Facts about. . .the winter solstice.

Transcript

CURWOOD: In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is, of course, the shortest day of the year. Do you know why? Because the southern hemisphere is stealing all our light. Yes! While there are only 9 hours of daylight here in Boston, there are 13 hours of sun in Rio de Janeiro. Actually, what causes the difference in the length of the day is the earth's tilt toward the sun. The earth leans slightly on its axis like a spinning top frozen in one off-kilter position. Astronomers have even pinpointed the precise angle of the tilt; it's 23 degrees and 27 minutes off the perpendicular to the plane of or bit. As the Earth orbits the sun, the northern hemisphere goes from being angled towards the sun at the summer solstice to being angled away from the sun at the winter solstice. Because of this, we have a planet full of climate with their varying amounts of sunlight. Despite the cold we feel here in the northern hemisphere in December, the Earth is actually nearer to the sun now than it is in June, by 3 million miles.

 

 

Living on Earth wants to hear from you!

Living on Earth
62 Calef Highway, Suite 212
Lee, NH 03861
Telephone: 617-287-4121
E-mail: comments@loe.org

Newsletter [Click here]

Donate to Living on Earth!
Living on Earth is an independent media program and relies entirely on contributions from listeners and institutions supporting public service. Please donate now to preserve an independent environmental voice.

Newsletter
Living on Earth offers a weekly delivery of the show's rundown to your mailbox. Sign up for our newsletter today!

Sailors For The Sea: Be the change you want to sea.

Creating positive outcomes for future generations.

Innovating to make the world a better, more sustainable place to live. Listen to the race to 9 billion

The Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment: Committed to protecting and improving the health of the global environment.

Contribute to Living on Earth and receive, as our gift to you, an archival print of one of Mark Seth Lender's extraordinary wildlife photographs. Follow the link to see Mark's current collection of photographs.

Buy a signed copy of Mark Seth Lender's book Smeagull the Seagull & support Living on Earth