Summer Solstice Marks Longest Day of the Year in Northern Hemisphere

As the Northern Hemisphere officially enters the summer season today on June 20, millions of people in countries like the United States and India are already experiencing intense heatwaves.

Even before the summer solstice, which signifies the onset of summer, these regions are facing soaring temperatures, pointing to potentially relentless heat throughout the season.

Climate activists recently gathered at the historical site of Stonehenge in the UK, advocating for the phasing out of fossil fuels due to their contribution to global warming and extreme weather patterns.

Every year, on the summer solstice, Stonehenge becomes a focal point for revelers who gather to commemorate the occasion, believed to have intentional solar alignments.

Today, June 20, 2024, marks the summer solstice, culminating in the longest day of the year for the Northern Hemisphere, with a specific timing of 20:50 GMT.

This event holds significance for the Earth’s position in its orbit around the sun, as well as the tilt of the North Pole towards the sun during the solstice.

Areas farther from the equator will encounter longer daylight hours compared to those nearer to it, with the Arctic Circle experiencing an entire day of sunlight.

Although the summer solstice boasts the most daylight hours, it may not necessarily align with the hottest temperatures of the season due to the natural phenomenon of “seasonal lag.”

The rise in temperatures typically follows the solstice, reaching peak heat levels in July or August when accumulated solar energy is at its highest.

This delay is influenced by various factors such as the gradual release of stored heat by the Earth’s surface and oceans.

Throughout the Northern Hemisphere, countries like the UK and the US, as well as India, have been reeling under intense heatwaves that precede the summer solstice.

The Southern Hemisphere, on the other hand, experiences the winter solstice during the same moment as the summer solstice in the North, symbolizing the contrasting seasonal shifts between the two hemispheres.

Reports on these astronomical occurrences are sourced from reputable news agencies like Al Jazeera.