Ah, summer! That time of year expected by many, especially children, is synonymous with sunny days, vacations and fun. O summer is one of the four seasons, occurring after spring and preceding autumn. We can identify this station according to some aspects, such as rainfall, temperature and air humidity.
Are you also one of those who wait for summer all year round, planning trips, especially to the coastal regions? Let's understand a little about summer and see how this season influences our behavior.
readalso:Seasons - characteristics of each of them
Meaning of the word summer
summer drifts from latin summer, which means spring time. |
Summer Features
The arrival of summer can be characterized by increased temperatures, especially in regions where the seasons are well defined, as is the case in temperate regions. O summer follows spring, a season in which temperatures are mild and begin to increase gradually.
During the summer period, temperatures in some places on the planet can reach 40ºC. At this time of year, it is important to be aware of the issue of hydration. Drinking water is essential every day and especially on days when temperatures are high.
Another feature of summer is related to rainfall (rainfalls). During this period, the rains gradually increase. known as convective rains or summer rains, usually occur in the afternoon and last for a short time, however, they are usually quite intense, with high speed winds and thunderstorms.
With the arrival of the rains, increases to air humidity. The increase in humidity causes the sensation of suffocation, thus increasing the thermal sensation. There are also greater evaporation of water masses, which is also related to the increase in rainfall, since there is greater formation of clouds.
readmore:Types of rain: find out which and how they are
summer date
Seasons occur every year at the same period, but they do not occur at the same time in both hemispheres. If summer is happening in the Southern Hemisphere; in the Northern Hemisphere, the current season of the year is winter. if in one is in effect the spring; in the other, autumn is taking place.
→ Northern Hemisphere Summer Date
Summer starts between June 20th and 21st and ends between September 22nd and 23rd.
→ Summer Date in the Southern Hemisphere
Summer starts between December 20th and 21st and ends between March 20th and 21st.
Summer Solstice
Have you ever heard of solstice and isquinox? Both are astronomical phenomena that mark the beginning of the seasons. The equinox is related to the beginning of spring and autumn and happens when the sun reaches the equator, equally illuminating both hemispheres. The solstice is related to the beginning of winter and summer.
O summer solstice marks the exact moment when the sun reaches its greatest declination in latitude (in relation to the Equator Line), making one of the hemispheres more illuminated. Thus, the hemisphere that is receiving the most sunlight will be the one in which the summer will begin, while the hemisphere that is receiving less rays will experience winter.
The difference in inclination is demarcated by the tropics, which are imaginary lines drawn cartographically on Earth to separate regions of the planet. If the sun's rays are hitting the Tropic of Capricorn, it will be summer in the Southern Hemisphere. If the sun's rays are hitting the Tropic of Cancer, the summer will start in the Northern Hemisphere.
To understand the occurrence of these phenomena in more detail, we recommend reading this article: How do the solstices and equinoxes occur?
DST
Used in several countries, the DST it is a mechanism used to make the best use of sunlight in order to reduce electricity consumption. This practice is called “summer time” because it is usually applied during the summer season. At the DST, the watches are one hour in advance. In the end, the clocks are one hour late, returning to normal time.
It is worth noting that this issue of time change is the subject of heated debates due to its effectiveness and also the possible harm caused to health. Many health professionals believe that changing the time causes negative changes in the body.
In Brazil, daylight saving time was adopted, in 1931, by the then president of Brazil, Getulio Vargas, but only a few states have adopted the time shift. In 2019, the president of Brazil, Jair Bolsonaro, signed a decree that ended daylight saving time in the country. To find out about this time, read: DST.
→ Daylight Savings Time in Northern and Southern Hemispheres
North hemisphere |
South hemisphere |
It starts in March or April and ends in October or November. |
It starts in October and November and ends in February and March. |
Curiosities about the summer
In summer, days are longer and nights are shorter, as there is a longer period of sunlight.
Summer is considered a season that makes people happy. This is explained by greater exposure to the sun, which causes the production of serotonin, the neurotransmitter responsible for our mood. This claim was presented through research when New Scientist|1| (science magazine that presents weekly news from various areas of science), in 2003, published that the Sun is a reason for happiness.
Some health problems are more common in the summer season, such as burns, allergies and mycoses. Dehydration is also a major concern, since during this period the orgasm loses more water than it gains. Another big problem in summer is the occurrence of dengue. The number of cases increases considerably during the summer due to the increased occurrence of rain, which favors the proliferation of the mosquito.
Grades
|1| New Scientist. To access, Click here.
