In a year, there are only two instances when the Earth’s axis is straight, neither away from nor toward the Sun. This occurrence brings about a nearly accurate amount of darkness and daylight at all latitudes; such events are Equinoxes (Berger et al. 1993). The bending of the light’s rays or the refraction of sunlight causes an illusion of the Sun’s position; the actual position of the Sun is below the horizon. Still, it appears to be above, causing nearly equal hours of day and night. Those on the equator will experience an overhead sun at noon, while those at a distance from the equator will experience longer days as the Sun takes longer to rise and set (Berger et al. 1993).
On the other hand, solstices range in two forms; the summer and winter solstice. The summer solstice happens when the Earth is in a full-tilt towards the Sun; this happens when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Cancer that runs through several regions at 23.5° latitude North. Regions above this latitude experience the Sun at its highest point, bringing about the longest days of the year. On the other hand, winter solstices happen when the Sun is directly over the Tropic of Capricorn at a latitude of 23.5° south, marking the shortest days and longest nights of the year (Berger, 1993).
In Cleveland, 41.5oN, there exists a lag concerning the longest day of the year and the warmest average temperatures. In mid-July is when the region experiences maximum daily temperatures three weeks after the summer solstice. The lag exists in the same way, as the warmest part of the day happening a couple of hours after noon when the Sun is at a peak in the sky. The lag occurs due to the time difference needed for the water and ground to heat up. The temperature continues to rise until the Sun disappears; this can be slightly noticeable on daily charts but is more prevalent on monthly average temperatures. In Cleveland, the months of July and August average warmer, with July and August averaging at 3.3°F and 2.8°F higher than June, respectively (National Weather Service).
According to experts, kite flying requires light breezes of wind, an approximation of about 4-10 miles per hour. However, for easy flying, windy areas are paramount to get the required velocity to lift the kite into the air (Harris, 2019). Therefore, choosing an area with the right conditions will be essential for the newfound hobby. Most of Ohio receives the northern winds, these forming part of the global wind patterns; the region in which an air mass forms determine what kind of winds prevail in that area. For instance, the equator receives an abundance of energy from the Sun, thus produces hot moist air the ascends high into the atmosphere. After the air stops raising, it spreads to the south and north towards the poles, cooling and then falling back to Earth’s surface. After about 2000 miles, the air blows back to the equator, and this process continues for six large convection currents that cover the Earth from pole to pole (Huth et al., 2008). In this case, a purchase of the residence next to the Cuyahoga River would be the best choice. Such is because due to the same reason; winds, settling on the shores of Lake Erie would present the problem of unpredictable seiches. Lake Erie is prone to experiencing changes in water levels due to huge waves caused by big north winds (Farhadzadeh et al., 2017). Seiches raise the water level and, in most cases, bring about flooding and accelerated erosion. Cuyahoga receives an average wind speed of about 17.46 mph, more than enough to fly a kite with no risk of Seiches.
In Northeast Ohio, the winters are windy, freezing, and mostly cloudy, while the summers are humid, warm, and partly cloudy. In the course of a given year, there is a temperature change that fluctuates from 22°F to 81°F and is rarely above 89°F or below 7°F (Weather Spark, 2021).
- Temperature: The host season runs for about four months, from 29th May to 21st September, with a 72°F aggregate daily high temperature. 19th July is the hottest day of the year, incorporating a high of 81°F and a low of 68°F. On the other hand, cold seasons run for about three months, from 5th December to 12th March, with a 44°F aggregate temperature. 29th January is the coldest day of the year, encompassing a low and high of 22°F and 34°F, respectively.
- Wind: The average hourly speed in Ohio experiences significant variations due to local topography and other factors. However, most parts experience windy weather for about six months, from 8th October to 16Th April, incorporating aggregate wind speeds of about 10.5 miles per hour. 4th January being the windiest day of the year, with wind speeds reaching up to 13 miles an hour.
- Precipitation: In general, the definition of a wet day is associated with at least 0.04 inches of liquid precipitation. Northeast Ohio’s wet days vary throughout the year, with the wet season lasting for eight months, from 19th March to 21st Each day runs a 27% probability of being a wet day during this period, with 14th June (38%) being the day with the highest probability of being a wet day. On the other hand, the dry season runs for four months; from 21st November to 19th March, 29th January (17%) having the smallest chance of being a wet day. However, there also exists a distinction between days that experience snow alone, rain alone, and a mixture of both.
- Pressure: Northeast Ohio receives a Barometer recording of a daily high of 1014.3hpa and a daily low of 1012.2hpa.
The main predictor of temperature for a given location is latitude; due to Earth’s inclination to the Sun, rays reach the Earth at different angles, regions on the equator receiving most of this energy. Those outside the tropics experience diminished rays. The closer a region is to the equator, the more sun rays they get, hence a warmer climate (Banerjea, 2016). In Ohio, latitude is a major factor for the region’s climate due to its distance from the equator; northern winds from Canada bring the Arctic air reducing NE Ohio temperatures triggering chill winds. Another notable factor that affects temperature for Ohio is Lake Erie; the lake water maintains a cool temperature through the summer, and through convention, the cool lake chills the air above, which then blows into the land as chill winds. Other factors that may influence the temperature of a given region include altitude, continentality, ocean currents, natural vegetation, and soil (Banerjea, 2016).
References
Average Weather in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, Year Round – Weather Spark. (n.d.). Weather Spark. Retrieved 21st April 2021, from https://weatherspark.com/y/18154/Average-Weather-in-Cleveland-Ohio-United-States-Year-Round
Banerjea, S. (2016, 8th March). Factors Influencing Temperature (With Diagram) | Geography. Your Article Library. https://www.yourarticlelibrary.com/geography/climate-geography/factors-influencing-temperature-with-diagram-geography/77664
Berger, A., Loutre, M. F., & Tricot, C. (1993). Insolation and Earth’s orbital periods. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 98(D6), 10341-10362.
Farhadzadeh, A., Hashemi, M. R., & Neill, S. (2017). Characterizing the Great Lakes hydrokinetic renewable energy resource: Lake Erie wave, surge, and seiche characteristics. Energy, 128, 661-675.
Harris, M. (2019). Harnessing the wind. Physics World, 32(12), 26.
Huth, R., Beck, C., Philipp, A., Demuzere, M., Ustrnul, Z., Cahynová, M., … & Tveito, O. E. (2008). Classifications of atmospheric circulation patterns: recent advances and applications. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 1146(1), 105-152.
National Weather Service. (n.d.). The Seasons, the Equinox, and the Solstices. Retrieved 21st April 2021, from https://www.weather.gov/cle/Seasons