Originally Posted by NeonHippy (Post 11897791)

Surely for using so many words to say not very much his dissertation is worthy of a chair.

For bb's benefit, the earth is slightly tilted on its axis so that as it orbits the sun it has a more northerly attitude facing the sun during the summer months and a more southerly attitude facing the sun during the winter months. It is at its most southerly position (23.5°S) on the winter solstice (around Dec 21), moves up until it crosses the equator on the spring equinox (around March 21) reaching its most northerly position (23.5°N) on the summer solstice (around Dec 21). It then moves back south, crossing the equator again on the autumn equinox (around Sep 21).

So as Penang is near the equator the sun will be directly overhead two times a year. But Penang sits at a latitude of 5.4 °N so the sun won't be directly overhead until, I am guessing, about 3 weeks after the spring equinox and 3 weeks before the autumn equinox. Which by my calculation means the temperature won't peak until the middle of April.

Originally Posted by quiltman (Post 11897793)

If you have any spare rain please send it over to us. Reservoirs are nearly dry , really hot most days - around 33/34 - and quite humid. Having to drink lots of canned liquid to keep hydrated but think there's something not quite right as I have a heck of a headache each morning! :)

Originally Posted by InVinoVeritas (Post 11897869)

According to this Sun & moon times today, George Town, Malaysia it will be on Sunday.

Originally Posted by NeonHippy (Post 11897791)

So as Penang is near the equator the sun will be directly overhead two times a year. But Penang sits at a latitude of 5.4 °N so the sun won't be directly overhead until, I am guessing, about 3 weeks after the spring equinox and 3 weeks before the autumn equinox. Which by my calculation means the temperature won't peak until the middle of April.

Originally Posted by SushiFan (Post 11897935)

My understanding of the story is not so much that the sun is directly overhead, but that the day is the longest and the night is shortest on the equinox days. Thus the place has less time to cool down and more time to heat up.
(By the way: both equinox days are National Holidays in Japan.)

Originally Posted by NeonHippy (Post 11897879)

Yes Sunday is the spring equinox. The sun is at its zenith on 4th April.

Day and Night World Map

Originally Posted by NeonHippy (Post 11897945)

Sushifan, I think you are getting confused with the solstice days. On the summer solstice the days are long in the northern hemisphere (midsummer day) and short in the southern hemisphere. On the winter solstice days are short in the northern hemisphere and long in the southern one. In fact if you travel far enough north on midsummer's day any where inside the Arctic circle the sun never sets below the horizon.

Equinox means 'equal night' and refers to the day when there is 12 hours day and 12 hours night over the equator.

Originally Posted by Dr Mazlan Hashim

This is not the first of such phenomenon as it takes place twice a year in March and September where the sun is located directly above the equator with the Peninsular being hit with the highest degree of heat.

Director of the Institute of Geospatial Science & Technology, Professor Dr Mazlan Hashim said that the phenomenon will cause a longer daytime period compared to normal times.

Originally Posted by bakedbean (Post 11907620)

A few of my farcebook friends are saying there was a big storm last night, thunder, lightning and the works. Really? I heard nothing and looks dry as a bone out there this morning..... at least in Tg Tg.

Originally Posted by bakedbean (Post 11907851)

Might've been desensitized by the 3 glasses of wine :drinkwine: