I live in new york city. the sun is closest to me on June 21st. Yet the hottest month in august. why?

Answer 1

There's a concept in weather called "thermal lag." Air is not heated by sunlight directly; rather, the sunlight strikes the ground and warms it, which in turn warms the air above it. Because the ground is a solid, it takes about a month to either build up heat or release it. Because of this, the Earth in the northern hemisphere is at its hottest in late July and August, after it has been exposed to the largest and most direct amount of sunlight. On June 22, you are still mostly feeling the effects of springtime sun exposure.

Answer 2

There are two reasons-
It is because the oceans in the northern hemesphere heat up as the spring and summer set in. Especially the pacific ocean. The cooler air aloft decreases because warmer water vapor is evaporated up into the atmosphere from the ocean. This is where the majority of our rain producing systems come from. Hurricanes/tropical storms can sometimes break these ridges down though. But there is usually little in the way of cool air associated with these since they develop in warmer than average water. Normal summer low pressure systems are usually too warm to break down the high pressure systems over the United States. This results in hot, dry weather.

Also, cool fronts tend to come down from Canada until early July on average. Unless you live in the far northern or far northeastern united states. A little further north then you like Maine. After early July, there is usually not enough cool air to sink south from the poles.
The north pole has more ice and snow cover late june/early july then August. The north poles has less light in August but also much less snow ; since the summer solstice time period allows a good amount to melt. (Has the latter half of June and almost all of July of near to above freezing temperatures. Except in a small area near the axis of the north pole. The north pole does not start regaining its ice/snow cover until mid-September usually.

Answer 3

I LOVE YOUR QUESTION. I have wondered the same thing. ALSO, why, when dec (whatever day it is) the sun is farthest away BUT January and Feb are the coldest months. I have a theory BUT it's whacked for sure, I think it's because as the earth starts to tilt back away from the sun in the summer all that hot air in the south comes rushing up towards the north and in the winter when it tilts all the cold air that's been building in the north comes rushing down south.

Answer 4

In addition to the answers above, keep in mind that the sun's rays are the strongest in the Northern Hemisphere on the summer solistice, it may also be closer in terms of angle in the North. The sun is actually closer to the earth (distance wise) in January.

Answer 5

The angle of the sun to your location has a greater influence on temperature than the distance to the sun. The mostt direct angle will create the greatest heat.

Answer 6

It's the same way across the US, i think.
Probably heat BUILD up? I really dunno!
SHOOT! If AUGUST is the HOTTEST MONTH?? YEOWW!
That means we're headed to consistant 100F days!!

Answer 7

thermal lag