We are approaching the Independence Day holiday weekend and the NOAA national weather forecast is calling for temperatures of at least 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 Celsius) in most of the High Plains and Intermountain regions. Six states are likely to experience near-record high temperatures of 100°F (38°C) or more.It's likely to be as hot and as dangerous as the Fourth of July fireworks. The scorching temperatures are 101 F (38 degrees Celsius) at Spokane (Washington), 103 F (39 degrees Celsius) at Boise (Idaho) and Medford (Oregon), 108 F (42 degrees Celsius) at Las Vegas (Nevada), 110 F (43 degrees Celsius) for Palm Springs (California) and 112 F (44.4 degrees C), for Lake Havasu City (44 degrees C).It may be surprising to learn that, despite the triple-digit temperatures, our planet will reach Aphelion (the point in its orbit when Earth's closest to the sun) at 6:27 p.m. ET (3:27 PDT/22.27 UTC) Monday, July 5. The distance between Earth and the sun will then be 94.510,886 miles (152.100,527 km) measured from the center.Related: Top 10 views from space of EarthThe sun is far away!The Earth is now 3,111,432 miles (5.007,364 kilometers) further from the sun than on Jan. 2, 2021, when it was at perihelion. This difference is 3.3%. This difference is almost 7% in radiant heat received by Earth.People would most likely guess June, July, or August if you asked them which month Earth is closest. The Earth's distance to the sun doesn't explain the warmth. The tilt of 23.5 degrees on the Earth's axis means that the sun rises above the horizon at different times of the year and for different periods. The tilt determines whether or not the sun's rays hit the planet at a lower angle.New York's latitude means that the most direct rays of the summer solstice in June 20 are three times more powerful than the less direct rays of the winter solstice in December 21. The length of daylight and the angle at which the sun is above the horizon determine how much heat is received in any given region. This is why there are noticeable variations in the temperatures across the globe. Because the heat buildup takes time, the delay between the solstice and the hottest day of the year is approximately a month. Temperate latitudes have the highest average temperatures, which is why they are not registered in June but July.A climatological fallacyThis simulation image shows Earth at aphelion. It is the distance that Earth is from the sun. Image credit: Starry NightMy Earth science teacher, Mr. Saul Shenberg told us all that we were the farthest away from the sun in July, and the closest to it in December. This would cause a temperature difference which will tend to heat the winters and cool down the summers, at least in the Northern Hemisphere.The truth is, however, that the Northern Hemisphere's preponderance in large land masses tends to make summers more hot and winters colder.It is interesting that the dates when the Earth lies closest to the sun and at its farthest point from it coincide roughly with two important holidays. New Year's Day is the closest day to the sun, while Independence Day is the farthest. The date of perihelion may vary depending on the year. However, it is possible for the date to be between January 1 and Jan 5. And the date to be aphelit from July 2 through July 6.
