The sun over Greenland has risen two days early, baffling scientists and sparking fears that Arctic icecaps are melting faster than previously thought.
Experts say the sun should have risen over the Arctic nation's most westerly town, Ilulissat, yesterday, ending a month-and-a-half of winter darkness.
But for the first time in history light began creeping over the horizon at around 1pm on Tuesday - 48 hours ahead of the usual date of 13 January.
Sinking Horizon or axial shift?
Even the sinking horizon doesn't make much sense and it would appear the locals are worried.
Posted by: ironraven
Re: Sun Arrives 2 days early. - 01/14/11 11:52 PM
The big fiery ball IS getting brighter. I thought it was just me.
Posted by: unimogbert
Re: Sun Arrives 2 days early. - 01/15/11 12:53 AM
Probably a result of a software upgrade on the govt's computer....
Posted by: Art_in_FL
Re: Sun Arrives 2 days early. - 01/15/11 01:39 AM
The perceived time of sunrise is not simple calculation if you get down to seconds. Your elevation, any blocking terrain, atmospherics refraction due to variable moisture, temperature or particulates all play a part. Closer to the equator these can shift the time a few minutes.
The time shift becomes much larger as you get closer to the poles. The difference in the height of the sun to the horizon is much more a factor of the tilt of the earth's as it orbits than the rotation of the earth on its axis.
In the far north, where there is no sun at all for part of the year, the days before the first sunrise the edge of the sun is just a few degrees below the horizon. Anything that can make up that angle will advance the perceived time of the first sunrise.
Combine the lowering of the blocking horizon due to glacier melting, with a bit of atmospheric refraction and it is easy to make up the difference.
Pole shift or planetary wobble are just not in the cards because these effects would show up globally. Effects nobody else has seen.
This is clearly a local effect and it demands a local mechanism and explanation. Glacier melt, lowering the blocking terrain, and atmospheric lensing, likely due to temperature and moisture gradients associated with recent unusual weather, are the two most likely causes.
Then again you could claim the aliens did it. You never know what those aliens will do. They are probably pointing and laughing at the people freaking out. Nothing like screwing with the rubes for a bit of fun.
Posted by: Susan
Re: Sun Arrives 2 days early. - 01/15/11 04:59 PM
It isn't the sun rising, it's the horizon sinking.
It's probably like waiting for a bus... if you're early, it's late; if you're on time, it was early.
Sue