Concept Map

This affects the angle of the Sun’s rays and the length of the daylight hours.

Begins at the Spring (Vernal) Equinox – March 20th-21 st The word Equinox means that the Sun’s rays are directly above the Equator, and that both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive Equal amounts of daylight and darkness hours. 12 hours of Daylight and 12 hours of Darkness.

Begins at the Summer Solstice – June 21st- 22 nd. The Sun’s rays are focused 23.5 o North of the equator at the Tropic of Cancer. Locations north of the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of Daylight and 0 hours of Darkness. The opposite happens south of the Antarctic Circle. This is the Longest daylight day of the year for areas north of the Equator, and the shortest daylight day for areas in the Southern Hemisphere.

Begins at the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox – September The Sun’s rays are directly above the Equator, the sun’s rays are most intense above that location. 12 hours of Daylight and 12 hours of Darkness are experienced at all locations on Earth.

Begins at the Winter Solstice – December 20-21st. The Sun’s rays are focused 23.5 o South of the equator at the Tropic of Capricorn. Locations north of the Arctic Circle receive 0 hours of Daylight and 24 hours of Darkness. The opposite happens south of the Antarctic Circle. This is the Longest daylight day of the year for areas south of the Equator, and the shortest daylight day for areas in the Northern Hemisphere.

Begins at the Spring (Vernal) Equinox – March 20th-21 st The word Equinox means that the Sun’s rays are directly above the Equator, and that both the Northern and Southern hemispheres receive Equal amounts of daylight and darkness hours. 12 hours of Daylight and 12 hours of Darkness. Begins at the Summer Solstice – June 21st- 22 nd. The Sun’s rays are focused 23.5 o North of the equator at the Tropic of Cancer. Locations north of the Arctic Circle receive 24 hours of Daylight and 0 hours of Darkness. The opposite happens south of the Antarctic Circle. This is the Longest daylight day of the year for areas north of the Equator, and the shortest daylight day for areas in the Southern Hemisphere. Begins at the Winter Solstice – December 20-21st. The Sun’s rays are focused 23.5 o South of the equator at the Tropic of Capricorn. Locations north of the Arctic Circle receive 0 hours of Daylight and 24 hours of Darkness. The opposite happens south of the Antarctic Circle. This is the Longest daylight day of the year for areas south of the Equator, and the shortest daylight day for areas in the Northern Hemisphere. Begins at the Fall (Autumnal) Equinox – September The Sun’s rays are directly above the Equator, the sun’s rays are most intense above that location. 12 hours of Daylight and 12 hours of Darkness are experienced at all locations on Earth. This affects the angle of the Sun’s rays and the length of the daylight hours.