Useful tips

Are north facing slopes in the northern hemisphere the warmest?

Are north facing slopes in the northern hemisphere the warmest?

In the northern hemisphere the opposite occurs – the south facing slopes are hot and dry and north facing slopes are cooler and moister.

What is the slope direction of the Northern Hemisphere?

In the northern hemisphere, the north side of slopes is often shaded, while the southern side receives more solar radiation for a given surface area insolation because the slope is tilted toward the sun and isn’t shaded directly by the earth itself.

What is a north facing slope?

Basically, a north-facing hillside…um…faces north. That means if you’re standing on the hill and looking down, you’re looking to the north, so in the northern hemisphere, you’ll end up with a lot more shade in this type of landscape compared to on a south-facing hillside.

Which slopes are warmer in the northern hemisphere?

South-facing slopes are much warmer than north facing slopes in the Northern Hemisphere.

What’s the difference between north facing and south facing slopes?

At mid latitudes in the northern hemisphere: • North facing slopes receive very little heat from the sun in mid winter. Conversely, south facing slopes receive much more heat. Therefore, a north facing slopes will usually develop a dramatically different snowpack than a south facing slope.

Where are the northern and southern hemispheres located?

The Equator, or line of 0 degrees latitude, divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern hemispheres. The Northern Hemisphere contains North America, the northern part of South America, Europe, the northern two-thirds of Africa, and most of Asia.

Why is aspect important in the northern hemisphere?

Therefore, the importance of aspect is primarily at mid latitudes. At mid latitudes in the northern hemisphere: • North facing slopes receive very little heat from the sun in mid winter. Conversely, south facing slopes receive much more heat.

When does the northern hemisphere tilt toward the Sun?

The tilt’s orientation with respect to space does not change during the year; thus, the Northern Hemisphere is tilted toward the sun in June and away from the sun in December, as illustrated in the graphic below.