trysail
Catch Me Who Can
- Joined
- Nov 8, 2005
- Posts
- 25,593
A common misconception about winter north of the Arctic Circle is that there is pitch blackness for weeks or even months. This is not true. This image was captured from Utqiaġvik (Barrow) at solar noon today (Dec 20) when the sun was 4.7° below the horizon. With a little help from refraction and cold air, the sun gets pretty close to the horizon and provides several hours of usable twilight.
Thanks. That's interesting (and instructive).
The misconception exists widely, in part, due to graphics such as the work of Alaska climatologist Brian Brettschneider, among others (see below).
https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9Tal7G6ook7B9jQABFUDNX7EeYs=/800x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/7678631/SolsticeDaylight.jpg
In general, there are lots of anecdotes suggesting that those afflicted with seasonal affective disorder (a/k/a "SAD") might want to avoid residing in places like Fairbanks.