Longer daytime and earlier sunrises will occur beginning this month in the Philippines and other Northern Hemisphere countries.
Weather observer Rex Guerrero of the state weather bureau PAGASA said, “The length of day and night will be nearly the same during the equinox and daytime in the Northern Hemisphere will begin lengthening while sunrises here will increasingly occur earlier.”
According to experts, the sun shines directly on the Earth’s equator during an equinox so daytime and nighttime will be of almost the same duration.
Guerrero said the sun will “move” northwards through the Northern Hemisphere after this month’s equinox, enabling countries there to increasingly experience longer daytime and earlier sunrises.
Northern Hemisphere daytime will continue increasing and reach its peak during the summer solstice this June, then begin shortening afterwards until again becoming of near-equal length as nighttime during the autumnal or fall equinox in September and reach its minimum duration during the winter solstice in December, he explained.
He said the cycle repeats afterwards as the Earth’s tilt and motion in orbit cause the annual equinoxes and solstices.
(Mark Nituma with reports from Philippine News Agency. Photo credit: FAQ.ph)
