CLIMATE v Tilt and Latitude

Latitude is a measure of the distance you are located from the equator. It is commonly shown as an
imaginary horizontal line that goes across the earth on maps and is used along with longitude as a
reference point to determine location. The tilt of the earth affects the seasons we experience
throughout the year.

Why do I care? The latitude and tilt of the earth are key factors which determine the climate at a
particular location.

The technical definition of latitude is the angular

distance north or south from the earths equator
measured through 90 degrees. Lines of latitude
form circles around the earth, with 0 degrees
latitude being at the equator and 90 latitude
representing the poles. For example, Miami,
Florida, is located at approximately 26 degrees
North latitude while New York, New York, is located
at approximately 41 degrees North latitude.

While there are other factors that affect general

climate in an area (terrain, location relative to
mountains/oceans, and height above/below sea
level, for example), latitude is an important factor in
determining what type of climate a location will
have. For example, we can expect Miamis climate
to be much warmer than that of New York since it
is at a lower latitude and is located closer to the
equator. Locations at lower latitudes receive
stronger and more direct sunlight than locations Figure A: Degrees of Latitude
near the poles. Energy input from the sun is the http://www.mrdowling.com/601-grid.html
main driving force in the atmosphere.

As mentioned earlier, there are other factors that influence the weather on the earth. One of these
is the tilt of the earth. The earth's axis of rotation is tilted about 23.5 degrees compared to the plane
of the earth's orbit around the sun. The earths tilt is responsible for the seasons we experience.

Figure B: Seasons of the Year

The earth moves around the sun in an elliptical fashion, and one complete orbit around the sun
takes one year. An interesting fact is that it is not the proximity of the earth to the sun that
determines the season; we are actually closest to the sun in January, not July. Instead, the tilt of the
earth is the key. When the Northern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, the Southern Hemisphere
is tilted away from the sun. This leads to summer in the Northern Hemisphere and winter in the
Southern Hemisphere as the Northern Hemisphere experiences the most direct sunlight and solar
heating as shown in Figure C.

Figure C: Northern Hemisphere Summer/Southern Hemisphere Winter (Wikipedia)

During winter in the Northern Hemisphere, the Southern Hemisphere is tilted towards the sun, which
now experiences summer shown in Figure D. The Southern Hemisphere takes in more of the suns
rays than the Northern Hemisphere, and the days last longer in the Southern Hemisphere.
Meanwhile, in the Northern Hemisphere, the days become shorter and the temperatures become
cooler. The sunlight is weaker and less direct, so there is less energy being absorbed by the earth
and atmosphere.

Figure D: Northern Hemisphere Winter/Southern Hemisphere Summer (Wikipedia)

During spring and fall, the earth is in a transition phase shown in Figure E. What usually marks the
occurrence of spring and fall astronomically is the equinox. The equinox occurs when the sun is
directly focused on the earths equator and causes 12 hours of daytime hours and 12 hours of
nighttime hours across the entire earth. There are two types of equinoxes that occur: the vernal and
the autumnal. The vernal equinox marks the beginning of spring for the Northern Hemisphere and
the beginning of fall for the Southern Hemisphere. As time passes, the Northern Hemisphere
gradually receives more of the suns rays and also experiences longer daylight hours. The autumnal
equinox marks the beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere and spring in the Southern
Hemisphere. The Northern Hemisphere gradually receives less of the suns rays over time and also
experiences less daylight hours. In addition to revolving around the sun, the earth rotates counter-
clockwise on its own axis. This rotation allows us to experience day and night.

Climatologists usually use full months to represent the seasons. Winter is considered December,
January and February; spring is March through May; summer is June through August; and fall or
autumn is September through November.

Figure E: Autumnal (Fall) Equinox/Vernal (Spring) Equinox (Wikipedia)

How does this relate to public health?

Seasonal trends in morbidity and mortality can be attributed to seasonal extremes of hot and cold
temperatures, influenza, and allergies. Latitude is associated with heat-related deaths. People who
live in more southern cities are more vulnerable during events of colder temperatures, while people
in more northern cities are more vulnerable during events of warmer temperatures. 1
 Annual Influenza-like Illness Trends (2008-2013)

Figure F: Percentage of visits for influenza-like illnesses have been exceptionally high in the
first few weeks of 2012-2013 season.

Data retrieved from http://www.flu.nc.gov/data/

Mid-latitude cities, such those in North Carolina, tend to experience greater summer climate
variability. These cities are also expected to experience the greatest increase in summertime heat-
related deaths as a result of climate change.2

Influenza or flu activity peaks during the winter months in the U.S., particularly during the month of
February.3 Researchers in New York City have developed a new weather modeling technique that
factors in periods of dry weather, and therefore can predict the timing and severity of seasonal
influenza outbreaks up to eight weeks out. Flu forecasts could alert residents to take extra
precaution by getting vaccinated, and public health professionals to ensure sufficient stockpiles of
vaccines and antiviral drugs.4

Figure G: A qualified nurse administers the FluMist flu vaccine.

Image from http://phil.cdc.gov/phil/details.asp

An earlier onset of the pollen season in the U.S. due to climate change may lead to greater
exposure to allergens, which in turn may worsen allergic conditions such as asthma or allergic
rhinitis (hay fever).5,6
1Curreiro,FC; et al. 2002.Temperature and mortality in 11 cities of the eastern United States. American
Journal of Epidemiology. Jan 1;155(1)80-7.

2PortierCJ, et al. 2010. A human health perspective on climate change: a report outlining the research needs
on the human health effects of climate change. Research Triangle Park, NC: Environmental Health
Perspectives/National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. doi:10.1289/ehp.1002272
<www.niehs.nih.gov/climatereport> Accessed November 17, 2012.

3Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention, National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
(NCIRD). October 12, 2012. Seasonal Influenza (Flu). <http://www.cdc.gov/flu/about/season/flu-season.htm>
Accessed November 17, 2012.

4Science Codex. Flu outbreaks predicted with weather forecast techniques. November 27, 2012.
<http://www.sciencecodex.com/flu_outbreaks_predicted_with_weather_forecast_techniques-102754>
Accessed December 6, 2012.

5Contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change, 2007. M.L. Parry, O.F. Canziani, J.P. Palutikof, P.J. van der Linden and C.E. Hanson (eds)
Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, NY, USA.
<http://www.ipcc.ch/publications_and_data/ar4/wg2/en/ch8s8-2-7.html> Accessed November 17, 2012.

6Environmental Protection Agency. Climate change: Human impacts and adaptation. June 14, 2012.
<http://epa.gov/climatechange/impacts-adaptation/health.html#impactsreducedair> Accessed November 17,
2012.