Does Distance from the Sun have an Effect on the Average High Temperatures of Cities within 5 Degrees of the Equator Jimmy Francis Gavin Benedict Sam Cohen

Abstract  Perihelion, when earth is closest to the sun, occurs during the first week of January each year. Aphelion, when earth is farthest from the sun, occurs during the first week of July each year. Analyzing the data of the average high temperatures of 37 cities within 5 degrees north of the equator and 5 degrees south, the researchers found that at these locations warmer temperatures occurred when earth is closest to the sun at perihelion.

Introduction  The earth's orbit around the sun is not a circle. The earth's orbit around the sun is slightly elliptical. Therefore, the distance between the earth and the sun varies throughout the year. At its nearest point on the ellipse that is the earth's orbit around the sun, the earth is 91,445,000 miles (147,166,462 km) from the sun. This point in the earth's orbit is known as perihelion and it occurs around January 3.  The earth is farthest away from the sun around July 4 when it is 94,555,000 miles (152,171,522 km) from the sun. This point in the earth's orbit is called aphelion. The slight ellipse in the earth's orbit does have a slight impact on the amount of solar energy being received by the earth at perihelion.

Methods and Materials  The researcher’s analyzed the average high temperatures in January and July of 37 cities 5 degrees north and south of the equator. The researcher’s also looked at the mean monthly hours of sunshine for January and July for the 37 cities. Mean hours of sunlight and temperatures were compared within cities at different times with a paired ttest.

Results Cities January average high temperature July average High Temperature Natal3128 Victoria Kinshasa3129 Brazzaville3128 Mombasa Fortaleza Bujumbura2829 Manaus Palembang2931 Sao Luis,Maranhao30 Guayaquil3128 Kigali Belem Nairobi Balikpapan29 Kismaayo3028 Quito Pontianak Cities January average high temperature July average High Temperature Macapá Kampala Libreville Singapore Mogadishu Kuala Lumpur Santiago de Cali Malabo3129 Yaoundé Douala Malé Bangui3229 Bogotá Juba Bandar Seri Begawan Cayenne2931 Abidjan3128 Accra3127 Puerto Ayacucho

Results

Discussion & Conclusion  The researchers conclude there is a difference in average high temperatures near the equator when the earth is closest to the sun or farthest from the sun. Those temperatures are higher when the planet is closer at perihelion in January.

References act.htmlhttp://nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/planetary/factsheet/earthf act.html