Vernal equinox 2024 explains why spring feels so early
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – After several months of winter, enjoying sunny days can almost seem too good to be true – especially when they come ahead of schedule.
That’s because the spring equinox is arriving a day or two early this year, according to OMSI’s director of space science education.
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For the past century, the equinox has typically taken place on March 20 or 21. But in 2024, the equinox is scheduled for March 19 thanks to the leap year.
The most recent early spring took place in 2020.
“Before then, the last time spring arrived this early was in 1896, 128 years ago,” Director Jim Todd said.
The spring equinox, also known as the vernal equinox, marks the day that both the north and south poles on Earth are an equal distance from the sun, thanks to the planet’s annual orbit.
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But for Portlanders, the equinox may have felt even earlier. Todd said daytime can seem to linger a bit longer because the Earth’s atmosphere refracts sunlight.
“In reality, March 16th is when day and night are both closest to 12 hours from Portland, Oregon, with sunrise at 7:18 a.m. and sunset at 7:19 p.m.,” Todd said. “At the 45th latitude North, the time it takes for the sun to fully rise and set, which is several minutes, is added to the day and subtracted from the night, and therefore the equinox day lasts a little longer than 12 hours.”
After the equinox, days will last longer than nights until the autumnal equinox on September 25.
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