Let There Be Light
Jackie Meretsky
On CNBC this morning, I heard my friend and colleague Joe Kernen ask "do we have more hours in the day today"? Being somewhat of a jokester, I'm sure Joe was just having some fun with the concept of solstice, but because of the complex relationship between astronomy and meteorology and the cultural and seasonal affiliations, there is ample ambiguity surrounding this concept.
In simple terms, which is the way I like to explain just about everything, the reason why today is considered the longest day of the year for those of us living in the Northern Hemisphere is because the northern hemisphere is tilted towards the sun to its maximum extent thus maximizing the amount of light. The sun is directly over the tropic of Cancer which you are probably familiar with if you're into Astrology. So, more light means a longer day. The sun giveth and the sun taketh away - thus more daylight means less darkness within the 24 hour time frame.
In this 2005 photo, crowds gathered to mark the summer solstice at Stonehenge in England.
Astronomy, astrology and meteorology join forces with the summer and winter solstices and we can can attribute many holidays and customs to them as well. Many cultures celebrate various combinations of the winter and summer solstices, the equinoxes, and the midpoints between them, leading to various holidays arising around these events. Different cultures have found fascinating and creative ways to incorporate and celebrate solstices.
For example, for the summer solstice, Christian Catholic cultures celebrate the feast of St. John from June 23 to June 24. And surely you've heard of Shakespears romantic comedy "A Midsummer's Nights Dream"? Well, Shakespeare obviously knew a thing or two about solstices and equinoxes which determine the midpoint of the seasons, hence "midsummer". Rather than celebrating the mid-season, the Japanese culture celebrate the start of each season with a festivity knows as Setbusan. I wonder if I can convince the powers that be to send me on a world-wide tour to investigate how each culture celebrates the solstices. It would be the meteorological and astronomical equivalent of a political reporter's campaign trail coverage! Wish me luck on my quest.
So, enjoy all that daylight today, make the most of it and just pretend that you have more hours to work with!
Comments
hey jackie, I hope you are enjoying today. you are doing a great job.
miss yeah in toronto.
I understand what your talking about jackie.
keep it up.
Posted by: Lena gustafson | June 21, 2007 12:47 PM
Jackie,
I have not written before but I had to email my support for your solstice quest. Just show this mail to the powers that be and I am sure you will be on your way. Don't forget to get at least business class! George
Posted by: George | June 22, 2007 12:35 PM
Jackie,
First off I wish you luck on your quest. It's a good gig if you can swing it! :O)
Second, thank you for keeping me company on the graveyard shift. I work for a power company in Minnesota as a dispatcher, and my boss has a big LCD on our wall with weather plus locked in 24/7 watching for bad weather entering our electric system. So I'm "forced" to watch you every early morning, but you are very good at your job, so I'm not complaining :O)
Lastly, I have a weather question for a weather expert like yourself. I live about an hour north of the twin cities which is where I work also (in a little town called Braham, MN -- the pie capital of Minnesota). Well for the past couple years, we have literally had no precipitation in this area. And I kid you not, the storms for two years have rolled right up to within 10 miles of the town, and literally disappear. Then they seem to reappear 30 minutes later 20 miles east of us in Wisconsin. This has happened with lightning storms in the summer and snow storms in the winter. I have been razzed constantly at work because I've noticed this. I said to my co workers it is like there is an invisible bubble blocking the rain and snow from us. So now I have goofy names like "bubble boy" which I don't really appreciate; but now I'm babbling. My question for you is: Is there a weather condition that would cause this type of weather pattern? You really know your stuff and I would love to come up with a intelligent answer to snap back at them the next time I am called bubble boy haha! Thanks again Jackie and have a great weekend! :O)
Posted by: Michael Adkins | June 24, 2007 11:24 AM
Very Interesting stuff indeed, let there be light and a few Kir Royales, psst dont forget the sunscreen~Cheers!
Posted by: Michael | June 25, 2007 07:42 AM