Today, the coldest day of this fall and winter season by far with lows in the teens and maybe with lots of sun getting to freezing, also happens to be the day for 2016 when the Earth is closest to the sun. Perihelion, the closest point in our elliptical orbit to our nearby star, about 6pm EST. But, how could it be so cold?
That has to do with a couple of other factors: our axis tilted 23 1/2 degrees from the plane of our orbit and the weather, that daily relationship we have with our atmosphere. While we are indeed 3 million or so miles closer to the sun than we are at aphelion, the far point in early July, we are severely tipped away from our star and not getting much direct sunlight nor was it shining on our part of Earth for very long today. The weather factor, much influenced by El Nino and a big ridge in the jet stream for most of December (waaaay warmest ever) and November has done the old switch and let the polar air back into the deep south. Tonight will be even colder as the center of the arctic high pressure dome, with its light winds, settles itself over the mid-Atlantic. Bundle up and/or snuggle up; it's cold out there.
So, today's lesson: OUR DISTANCE FROM THE SUN HAS ALMOST NO EFFECT ON THE SEASONS (or daily weather). It's all about the tilt as we orbit the sun.
And, while I always recommend a jaunt out on the planet, you better be bundled up, Today On Earth!
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