Sun Glare and Traffic Safety
Sun/Shadow and Urban Development
Random Fun Sun Facts
Blog Description - A collection of media articles and tweets highlighting 1) the dangers of sun glare while driving, 2) the issue of shadowing due to urban development, and 3) random fun sun facts.
Blog Purpose and Disclaimer - This blog compiles and shares public interest stories in an effort to educate and raise awareness. Sources, credits and links are provided for articles and images, and it is my belief that this blog complies with the fair dealing exception in Canada's Copyright Act. However, if you wish your item removed, simply ask.
Cheers, Ralph Bouwmeester
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Sunrise/Sunset Tables March 2013
Our free sunrise/sunset tables for March 2013 have been posted. If you would like to receive one for the current month for your location, simply e-mail your request to us. Tables for past and/or future months are also available. For more information visit:
http://www.sunposition.com/tables.html
Cheers, Ralph
Daylight Saving Time Change
For those of you in North American jurisdictions that observe Daylight Saving Time, don't forget to 'spring ahead' your clocks one hour before bedtime on Saturday night, March 9th. Official time change to Daylight Saving Time occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, March 10th.
Cheers, Ralph
Thursday, November 1, 2012
Daylight Saving Time Dates
Starting in 2007, daylight time begins in North America on the second Sunday in
March and ends on the first Sunday in November. On the second Sunday in March,
clocks are set ahead one hour at 2:00 a.m. local standard time, which becomes
3:00 a.m. local daylight time. On the first Sunday in November, clocks are set
back one hour at 2:00 a.m. local daylight time, which becomes 1:00 a.m. local
standard time.
Not all places in the U.S. observe daylight time. In
particular, Hawaii and most of Arizona do not use it. Indiana adopted its use
beginning in 2006. In Canada, most of Saskatchewan, parts of Quebec, and
Southampton Island in Nunavut do not observe daylight time.
2007 March 11 November 4
2008 March 9 November 2
2009 March 8 November 1
2010 March 14 November 7
2011 March 13 November 6
2012 March 11 November 4
2013 March 10 November 3
2014 March 9 November 2
2015 March 8 November 1
Cheers, Ralph
Source: USNO and National
Research Council Canada
Daylight Saving Time 2012 Ends
For those of you in North American
jurisdictions that observe Daylight Saving Time, don't forget to 'fall back' your
clocks one hour before bedtime on Saturday night, November 3rd. Official
time change back to Standard Time occurs at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 4th.
At least the mornings won't be so dark anymore!
We 'spring ahead' to Daylight Time again on March 10th next year.
Cheers, Ralph
We 'spring ahead' to Daylight Time again on March 10th next year.
Cheers, Ralph
Sunday, September 2, 2012
Sun Glare While Driving - Photo Examples
Photographic examples of the effects of
sun glare while driving.
Material re-printed from our web site at
(all photos taken by Ralph Bouwmeester)
Notes:
- These samples were taken with sun altitudes between 2 and 7 degrees.
- In these photos, the camera automatically reduced the intensity of the sun's glare. Actual intensities were much greater, to the point of causing eye watering.
- Note how difficult it is to see into the shadows (Figs 1 and 2).
- Note how quickly visibility can deteriorate (Fig 2).
- Note how road grade can change the effective height of the sun (Fig 3).
- Note what can NOT be seen when the sun is close to one's line of sight (Fig 4).
FIG 1 - Bright sun / Dark shadows(Sun at about 7 degrees above horizon)
Note darkness of shadows.
FIG 2 - Sudden change in visibility conditions(Sun at about 6.5 degrees above horizon)
Note darkness of shadows. School on left, crosswalk ahead,
and intersecting street on right.Note how relatively good visibility can deteriorate in a matter of seconds
(4 seconds between photos in this example).
FIG 3 - Sun appears lower due to climbing road grade(Sun at 3.5 degree altitude (apparent height is less))
Note how apparent height of sun is reduced by climbing road grade.
FIG 4 - Sun glare obscures important objects(Sun at about 2 degrees above horizon)
Note what is NOT visible in this photo......an approaching ambulance turning left.......and a Stop Sign!!Cheers, Ralph
Wednesday, August 1, 2012
London 2012 Olympics - Sunrise/Sunset Times
To help you plan your London 2012 experience, we have posted sunrise and sunset tables for the Olympics and Paralympics venues.
OR
Cheers, Ralph
Tuesday, July 3, 2012
July 2012 Sunrise/Sunset Tables
July 2012 sunrise/sunset tables for select cities in Canada, the US, the Middle East, Haiti and Japan have been posted. The tables include the times of rise and set as well as the time of solar noon and the total number of sunlight hours for each day of the month. Sun directions at rise and set are available upon request.
If your location is not one of the samples, contact us for a free table for your location for this month.
Visit http://www.sunposition.com/tables.html to view and print our samples or to order your location-specific table.
Cheers, Ralph
If your location is not one of the samples, contact us for a free table for your location for this month.
Visit http://www.sunposition.com/tables.html to view and print our samples or to order your location-specific table.
Cheers, Ralph
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