Why doesn't ...
 

.... the month with the longest day (i.e. June) correspond with the
warmest month of the year?


John

Why doesn't ...
 

Our temperatures in the UK are heavily influenced by the seas around us.
These only heat up (and cool down) slowly (due to the high specific heat
capacity of water), hence the warming of these waters continues long after
June 21st/22nd, and they may not reach their warmest until late July or even
well into August. The reverse is true in the winter time. The seas continue
cooling and in some years do not reach their coldest until mid-February.

Areas away from seas and oceans have a more 'continental' type climate where
it is the land that has a large influence on temperature. The land warms up
much more quickly (and cools) than the oceans, but still slowly enough to
make July the hottest month, and January the coldest.

Generally in the UK, August is warmer than June and not much cooler than
July. February is roughly the same as January (with December being warmer
than January).
______________________
Nick G

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
... the month with the longest day (i.e. June) correspond with the
warmest month of the year?


John

Why doesn't ...
 

"John Smith" wrote in message
...
... the month with the longest day (i.e. June) correspond with the
warmest month of the year?


John

Probably for a similar reason to why the coldest part of the night is
not (necessarily) midway between sunset and sunrise.

Why doesn't ...
 

"John Smith" wrote ... the month with the longest day (i.e. June)
correspond with the
warmest month of the year?

Because it takes some time for air masses and bodies of water in the
oceans and seas and, to a lesser extent, large land masses to warm up.
The same is true in winter, when the converse happens and it takes some
time for them to cool down. Therefore, although the strongest and weakest
sunshine in the northern hemisphere are at the solstices (in June and
December, respectively), temperatures lag behind and (as a general rule)
the warmer summer weather is in July and early August, with the colder
winter weather in January & February.

For the same reason, the lead into winter (i.e. autumn) tends to be warmer
than spring, although the elevation of the sun is clearly the same for
corresponding days in each of those seasons.

(Although the elevation of the sun might be the same, the quality of the
light usually looks different during "corresponding days" in autumn and
spring, as well, but that another story).

- Tom.

Why doesn't ...
 

On Thu, 15 Jul 2004 14:37:01 +0100, "Neil Jones"
wrote:


"John Smith" wrote in message
...
... the month with the longest day (i.e. June) correspond with the
warmest month of the year?


John

Probably for a similar reason to why the coldest part of the night is
not (necessarily) midway between sunset and sunrise.

Not quite the same effect. In clear weather daytime maximum temperatures lag
the maximum solar radiation (1200 local) by a few hours, but night minima nearly
always occur just before sunrise.

JPG