What’s a polar day?

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A polar day refers to a day when the sun does not set for 24 hours. This occurs because the top of the earth tilts towards the sun during the middle of the year. Areas in the very northern and very southern parts of the globe are the only regions that experience both polar days and polar nights. Both of these phenomena often have negative effects on the few people who inhabit these regions.

Also referred to as the midnight sun, a polar day occurs when the sun does not set for an entire day or 24 hours. It’s called the midnight sun, because the sun often still shines at midnight. This phenomenon can occur for just a day or six months, depending on how far a region is from the equator.

The earth is tilted at a slight angle as it travels around the sun. This is sometimes referred to as an axial tilt and this angle is responsible for the polar day. The northernmost part of the earth, which is the area north of an imaginary line called the Arctic Circle, is tilted towards the sun for six months of the year. The southernmost part of the globe, which is the area south of an imaginary line known as the Antarctic Circle, is also tilted towards the sun for six months. Because these areas are angled towards the sun, the sun here shines longer during half of the year, resulting in longer daylight hours and even a polar day.

Depending on how far north or south an area is from the Arctic or Antarctic Circle, it can have anywhere from one polar day to six months of polar days. Regions that lie right on these latitude parallels will usually only experience one polar day per year. The top and bottom of the globe, on the other hand, will experience a six-month period where the sun never sets. When there is a polar day in the northernmost part of the globe, the southernmost part of the globe is usually experiencing polar night.

The first polar day at the North Pole usually begins on the same day as the vernal, or vernal, equinox, which falls around March 21. Polar days then last until the autumnal equinox, which occurs around September 23, and polar nights will begin. The sun is usually highest in the sky at the time of the summer solstice, which falls around June 21st. It is on this date, however, that areas right on the Arctic Circle will experience a polar day.

Towns and villages that experience a polar day typically celebrate the event. Festivals, for example, are not uncommon. However, the 24 hours of sunshine are not always welcomed by everyone. This constant light usually makes it very difficult to sleep, leaving the residents of these areas fatigued and irritable. Even the constant darkness of the polar nights has a negative impact on many people. This gloom can cause seasonal depression in many people.

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