Lighter afternoons

[LeetleGreyCells]

Before you all go spring mad .... We are in the 8th day of January and still have around 12 weeks of cold damp horrible weather to contend with

Yes i'm feeling a bit pessimistic about the weather

Date-wise, you are correct. However, due to the weather, I believe that Winter started a few weeks earlier this time which could signal an early Spring. There was certainly a lot of ice and snow about 3-4 weeks before Christmas (at least where I live) which is unusual. We usually get that after Christmas.

Fingers crossed for an early Spring! - that's so overly optimistic, I making myself

 

[cyberknight]

Wednesday could be a good day for a ride (with no ice!) when I get to stay out a little longer thanks to the lighter afternoon!

View attachment 390747

Just mud to contend with , had an off this morning on an unlit corner i have reported to the council repeatedly on a patch of mud on the cyclepath

 

[palinurus]

I have paid quite a lot of attention to when the mornings and nights start getting lighter, mainly because I like to ride in daylight rather than darkness - for safety and enjoyment.

I was surprised to find that the nights start getting lighter on 16th December, according to this website:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/liverpool?month=12&year=2017

I check that site every day at this time of year to see how many extra minutes of light I get!

Just started to get lighter in the mornings- technically anyway, not noticeably yet.

 

[BrumJim]

I have paid quite a lot of attention to when the mornings and nights start getting lighter, mainly because I like to ride in daylight rather than darkness - for safety and enjoyment.

I was surprised to find that the nights start getting lighter on 16th December, according to this website:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/liverpool?month=12&year=2017

That is 5 days before the shortest day, 21st December, which is the shortest day because the mornings continue to get darker until Christmas day, and don't start getting lighter until 4th January, according to the same website:

https://www.timeanddate.com/sun/uk/liverpool?month=1&year=2018

Here endeth today's CC Geographic lesson

Even though the mornings are dragging their heels getting lighter, it is nice to see afternoon daylight lasting longer - about 20 minutes now from the earliest sunsets of December. I usually don't work much at this time of year, but tomorrow I have an 18 mile commute; unfortunately it will be dark on the way home. Can't wait for the lighter months when I can extend that by a few miles by going through some lovely countryside, and a scenic coastal route.

I noted this a few years ago. My Mum told me that after 21st Dec, the evenings get lighter, but the mornings stay dark a bit longer. I thought it was just another one of her tales. Turns out it is true.

It also allows me to be even more miserable in June. I used to turn up to work on 22nd and note that the nights were now drawing in. I now can start even earlier with "evenings are getting darker!".

 

[ManiaMuse]

It's getting better slowly but still several weeks before I'll be cycling home in daylight (stupid boss who won't let me work more flexible hours).

Cloud makes a big difference to how quickly it gets dark in the evenings. The last couple of days were nice and sunny here and the blue hangs around in the sky for a lot longer after the sun sets compared to today which was dull and grey and the sky turned black straight after sunset.

Oh how I hate winter, counting down the days until Spring, at least this week looks to be mostly dry.

 

[biggs682]

still pitch black outside

 

[Roadhump]

Another "factoid" I once learned which is related to the nights getting lighter is that although the hours of daylight start to increase from 21st December, the Earth (or our part of it) continues to cool down for a few weeks and it doesn't start to warm up until 19th January - I think it was one of Dr Brian Cox's gems from Wonders of the Universe, IIRC.

Anyway, I did my commute today. Got the train on the way there, and got off a couple of stops early to have a bit of a morning ride. Managed to get away at 1530 which enabled me to enjoy a ride along Crosby sea front at dusk on the way home. The tide was quite high and the slight wind meant the sea was calm, quite a peaceful eerie scene, which wouldn't have been possible to enjoy in the dark at the same time a few weeks ago - roll on spring.

 

[User6179]

The 17th of February is the coldest day of the year on average.........

 

[steveindenmark]

Ive changed my start time at work to 5am from this week. I usually commute on the bike but am taking the car for a while instead. It means I can leave work at 1.30pm and be home and on my bike by 2.15pm. Much better to riding in the light and it is slightly warmer.

 

[al78]

I noted this a few years ago. My Mum told me that after 21st Dec, the evenings get lighter, but the mornings stay dark a bit longer. I thought it was just another one of her tales. Turns out it is true.

The earliest sunset is around the 12th December, and the latest sunrise is around the 1st or 2nd January.

 

[al78]

Another "factoid" I once learned which is related to the nights getting lighter is that although the hours of daylight start to increase from 21st December, the Earth (or our part of it) continues to cool down for a few weeks and it doesn't start to warm up until 19th January - I think it was one of Dr Brian Cox's gems from Wonders of the Universe, IIRC.

This is true. Incoming solar radiation increases from the winter to the summer solstice, but for a few weeks after the winter solstice, outgoing longwave radiation still exceeds incoming solar radiation, so climatologically the coldest part of the year is late January to early February.

Same reasoning applies to the summer. After the summer solstice incoming radiation is still (on average) greater than outgoing radiation, so the (climatological) surface temperature continues to rise for a good month afterwards, hence the warmest time of the year is late July/early August.

The high heat inertia of the ocean also contributes to this.

 

[biggs682]

it's getting there for sure this week i have noticed a lot lighter

 

[Roadhump]

This is true. Incoming solar radiation increases from the winter to the summer solstice, but for a few weeks after the winter solstice, outgoing longwave radiation still exceeds incoming solar radiation, so climatologically the coldest part of the year is late January to early February.

Same reasoning applies to the summer. After the summer solstice incoming radiation is still (on average) greater than outgoing radiation, so the (climatological) surface temperature continues to rise for a good month afterwards, hence the warmest time of the year is late July/early August.

The high heat inertia of the ocean also contributes to this.

Great explanation, thanks - what a great word that is as well

 

[palinurus]

Pretty light when I got home today, did leave at 4 tho'

 

[palinurus]

I know this is going to happen, but I find it incredible every year.