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| − | {{Other uses|Midnight Sun (disambiguation)}} | + | {{honor header|1|2014|Nature|Trans-European Division}} |
| − | {{One source|date=November 2010}}
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| − | {{refimprove|date=August 2013}}
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| − | [[Image:Midnight sun.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The midnight sun at [[Nordkapp]], [[Norway]].]]
| + | ==1. Describe the geographic areas the midnight sun may be seen in.== |
| − | [[Image:Altafjord01.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The [[Altafjord]] in [[Alta, Norway|Alta]], [[Norway]] bathed in the Midnight Sun.]]
| + | ==2. Describe why and at what time of the year the phenomenon may be seen.== |
| − | [[Image:Midnight sun in Kiruna.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Midnight sun in [[Kiruna]], [[Sweden]].]]
| + | ==3. Find a place where you can observe the sun at its lowest position during the night and do the following:== |
| − | | + | ===a) Calculate the exact time for the suns lowest position (take into consideration daylight saving time if applicable).=== |
| − | The '''midnight sun''' is a [[natural phenomenon]] that occurs in the summer months in places north of the [[Arctic Circle]] or south of the [[Antarctic Circle]], when the sun remains visible at the local midnight. Around the [[summer solstice]] (approximately June 21 in the north and December 22 in the south) the sun is visible for the full 24 hours, given fair weather. The number of days per year with potential midnight sun increases the farther towards either pole one goes. Although approximately defined by the polar circles, in practice the midnight sun can be seen as much as 90 km outside the polar circle, as described below, and the exact latitudes of the farthest reaches of midnight sun depend on topography and vary slightly year-to-year.
| + | ===b) Stay awake until the sun has reached its lowest position and take a landscape picture that shows the sun and some surrounding nature. Make sure not to look directly into the sun without proper protection.=== |
| − | | + | ===c) Look around you and take note of how the nature reacts to the continuous sunlight.=== |
| − | There are no permanent human settlements south of the Antarctic Circle, so the countries and territories whose populations experience it are limited to those crossed by the Arctic Circle, i.e. [[Canada]] ([[Yukon]], [[Northwest Territories]], and [[Nunavut]]), [[Greenland]], [[Iceland]], [[Finland]], [[Norway]], [[Russia]], [[Sweden]], and the [[United States]] ([[Alaska]]). A quarter of [[Finland]]'s territory lies north of the [[Arctic Circle]] and at the country's northernmost point the sun does not set at all for 60 days during summer. In [[Svalbard]], Norway, the northernmost inhabited region of Europe, there is no sunset from approximately 19 April to 23 August. The extreme sites are the poles where the sun can be continuously visible for a half year.
| + | ===d) Find information on the time period the midnight sun phenomenon is visible at your point of observation.=== |
| − | | + | ==4. For what period of the year is the sun visible at each of the poles?== |
| − | The opposite phenomenon, [[polar night]], occurs in winter when the sun stays below the [[horizon]] throughout the day.
| + | ==5. What is the “polar night”?== |
| − | | + | ==6. Read Genesis 1:31-2:3, Leviticus 23:32, Exodus 20:8-11 and Nehemiah 13:15-22 and discuss in a group (or in written form – at least 500 words) when the Sabbath starts according to the bible and how this can be applied in areas that experience midnight sun and polar night.== |
| − | Since the [[axial tilt]] of the Earth is considerable (approximately 23 degrees 27 minutes) the sun does not set at high latitudes in (local) summer. The duration of sunlight increases from one day during the summer [[solstice]] at the [[polar circle]] to several weeks only 100 km closer to the pole, to six months at the [[Geographical pole|poles]]. At extreme latitudes, it is usually referred to as '''polar day'''.
| + | ==7. Talk to at least 5 persons that have lived or currently live in an area with midnight sun and ask them how the midnight sun and polar night affect their life.== |
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| − | At the poles themselves, the sun only rises once and sets once each year. During the six months when the sun is above the horizon it spends the days continuously moving in circles around the observer, gradually spiralling higher and reaching its highest circuit of the sky at the summer solstice.
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| − | Due to [[atmospheric refraction]] and also because the sun is a disk rather than a point, the midnight sun may be experienced at latitudes slightly below the polar circle, though not exceeding one degree (depending on local conditions). For example, [[Iceland]] is known for its midnight sun, even though most of it ([[Grímsey]] is the exception) is slightly south of the Arctic Circle. For the same reasons, the period of sunlight at the poles is slightly more than six months. Even the northern extremities of [[Scotland]] (and those places on similar latitudes such as [[St. Petersburg]]) experience twilight in the northern sky at around the summer solstice.
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| − | Observers at heights appreciably above sea level can experience extended periods of midnight sun as a result of the 'dip' of the horizon viewed from altitude.
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| − | ==Time zones and daylight saving time== | |
| − | In this article, the term "midnight sun" refers to the phenomenon of 24 consecutive hours of sunlight north of the Arctic Circle or south of the Antarctic Circle. There are, however, some instances which are sometimes referred to as "midnight sun", even though they are in reality due to time zones and the observance of [[daylight saving time]]. For instance, in [[Fairbanks, Alaska]], which is south of the Arctic Circle, the sun sets at 12:47 am at the [[summer solstice]]. This is because Fairbanks is 51 minutes ahead of its idealized [[time zone]] (as most of the state is on one time zone) and in addition the state of [[Alaska]] observes daylight saving time. (Fairbanks is at about 147.72 degrees west, corresponding to UTC-9 hours 51 minutes, and is on UTC-9 in winter.) This means that [[solar culmination]] occurs at about 1:51 pm. instead of at 12 noon.
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| − | If a precise moment for the genuine "midnight sun" is required, the observer's [[longitude]], the local [[civil time]] and the [[equation of time]] must be taken into account. The moment of the sun's closest approach to the horizon coincides with its passing due north at the observer's position, which occurs only approximately at midnight in general. Each degree of longitude east of the [[Greenwich meridian]] makes the vital moment exactly 4 minutes earlier than midnight as shown on the clock, while each hour that the local civil time is ahead of [[coordinated universal time]] (UTC, also known as GMT) makes the moment an hour later. These two effects must be added. In addition the equation of time (which depends on the date) must be added: a positive value on a given date means that the sun is running slightly ahead of its average position, so the value must be subtracted.<ref>H. Spencer Jones, ''General Astronomy'' (Edward Arnold, London, 1922), Chapters I-III</ref>
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| − | As an example, at the [[North Cape, Norway|North Cape]] at midnight on June 21/22, the longitude of 25.9 degrees east makes the moment 103.2 minutes earlier by clock time; but the local time, 2 hours ahead of GMT, takes it 120 minutes later by clock time. The equation of time at that date is -2.0 minutes. So the sun's lowest elevation occurs 120 - 103.2 + 2.0 minutes after midnight, i.e. at 00.19. On other nearby dates the only thing different is the equation of time, so this remains a reasonable estimate for a considerable period. The sun's altitude remains within half a degree of the minimum of about 5 degrees for about 45 minutes either side of this time.
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| − | ==White Nights== | |
| − | {{Main|White Night festivals}}
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| − | Locations where the sun is less than 6 (or 7<ref name="GSE">[[Great Soviet Encyclopedia]]</ref>) degrees below the horizon which are above 60° 34’ (or 59° 34’) latitude that are south of the Arctic Circle or north of the Antarctic Circle experience midnight [[twilight]] instead, so that daytime activities, such as reading, are still possible without artificial light on a clear night.
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| − | White Nights<!-- Should be capitalised in the same way that "Arctic Circle" and "Antarctic Circle" are, since "White Nights" refers to one item --> have become a common symbol of [[Saint Petersburg]], [[Russia]], where they occur from about June 11 to July 2,<ref name="GSE"></ref> and the last 10 days of June are celebrated with cultural events known as the [[White Nights Festival]].
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| − | ==When to see the midnight sun== | |
| − | [[File:Midnight sun dates svatlas.png|thumb|250px|Map showing the dates of midnight sun at various latitudes (left) and the total number of nights.]]
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| − | The Midnight Sun is visible at the [[Arctic Circle]] from June 12 until July 1. This period extends as one travels further north.
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| − | At [[North Cape, Norway|North Cape]], [[Norway]], known as the northernmost point of [[Continental Europe]], this period extends approximately from May 14 to July 29. On the [[Svalbard]] archipelago further north this period extends from April 20 to August 22.<ref>Trygve B. Haugan, ed. ''Det Nordlige Norge Fra Trondheim Til Midnattssolens Land'' (Trondheim: Reisetrafikkforeningen for Trondheim og Trøndelag. 1940)</ref>
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| − | ==Effect on people==
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| − | Many find it difficult to sleep during the night when the sun is shining. In general, visitors and newcomers are most affected. Some natives are also affected, but in general to a lesser degree. The midnight sun, that is, not experiencing night for a long time, is said to cause [[hypomania]], which is characterized by persistent and pervasive elevated or irritable mood.{{cn|date=November 2013}}
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| − | The midnight sun is also an issue for those who observe religious rules based around the 24 hour day/night cycle. In the Jewish community there is a [[Jewish law in the polar regions|body of law]] which attempts to deal with adherence to the [[Mitzvah]] in such conditions. Another affected religion is Islam, where fasting during daylight hours in [[Ramadan]] would imply total abstinence. Also, Muslims have 5 obligatory prayers daily which are timed according to position of the sun, so it becomes difficult for them to decide the prayer times; however, they can follow the timings of the closest place that has a normal sun cycle or the timings of [[Mecca]], the holiest city of Islam.
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| − | ==In fiction== | |
| − | * In the film ''[[Insomnia (1997 film)|Insomnia]]'' and its [[Insomnia (2002 film)|American remake]], the [[protagonist]] suffers from insomnia partially brought on by the midnight sun while investigating a murder north of the Arctic Circle (Norway in the original, and Alaska in the remake).
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| − | * In "[[The Midnight Sun]]", an episode of ''[[The Twilight Zone]]'', the Earth is on a collision course with the sun, causing a midnight sun effect.
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| − | * The episode of ''[[Northern Exposure]]'' entitled "Midnight Sun" explores the effects of the phenomenon on the small Alaskan town's residents.
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| − | * In the [[Stephen Sondheim]] musical ''[[A Little Night Music]]'', the two Night Waltzes deal specifically with the phenomenon of Midnight Sun.
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| − | ==In music== | |
| − | * Led Zeppelin's "Immigrant Song" mentions the midnight sun in the lyrics ("We come from the land of ice and snow/From the midnight sun where the hot springs flow") after their visit to [[Reyjkavik]], [[Iceland]] during their [[Led Zeppelin Tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany, Summer 1970|their tour of Iceland, Bath and Germany in the summer of 1970]].
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| − | ==See also== | |
| − | {{Commons category|Midnight sun}}
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| − | * [[Eagle Summit (Alaska)|Eagle Summit]], which experiences midnight sun despite being south of the Arctic Circle because of altitude
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| − | * [[Polar night]] - The opposite phenomenon experienced in winter: a day without sunrise.
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| − | * [[Midnight Sun Solar Race Team]] - A solar race car team: With the midnight sun phenomenon, a solar-powered vehicle can continue driving 24 hours a day
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| | ==References== | | ==References== |
| − | {{reflist}}
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| − | ==Additional Reading==
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| − | 1. Lutgens F.K., Tarbuck E.J. (2007) The Atmosphere, Tenth Edition, page 39, PEARSON, Prentice Hall, NJ.
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| − | ==External links==
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| − | * [http://www.virtualtromso.no/en/panoramas-from-tromso/56-midnight-sun-seen-from-fjellheisen-cable-car.html Midnight sun seen from Fjellheisen Tromsø - 360 panorama]
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| − | * [http://www.uwmidsun.com/ Midnight Sun Solar Race Car Team]
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| − | {{Parts of a day}}
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| − | {{DEFAULTSORT:Midnight Sun}}
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| − | [[Category:Earth phenomena]]
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| − | [[Category:Arctic geography terminology]]
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| − | [[Category:Sun]]
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