Hello

 

I noticed during a summer holiday in Tenerife that it got dark rather earlier than it would do in England.

 

I thought that being nearer the equator, it would stay lighter till later in the day.

 

Please explain in simple terms or an animation recommendation might help me.

 

Regards to all

 

Alan

The tilt of the earth changes the length of day dramatically at the higher latitudes. More sunlight hours in summer, less in winter. Near the equator, not so much.

 

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a3/Seasonearth.png/500px-Seasonearth.png

 

Notice how sunset is at the same line of longitude on the equinoxes, but not on the solstices. The terminator (light/dark dividing line) increases its tilt as you go from equinox to the solstice. In spring and summer in the northern hemosphere, the sun sets later the further north you go.

I met a guy from Nigeria - he was amazed that it was still daylight at 10pm in the summer here... There it gets dark at 8 pm every day summer or winter... I had to explain to him about the tilt of the earth and stuff and he was amazed - even more so when I told him it gets dark at 4.30 pm in the winter.

Thank you and for making it clear,

 

Best

 

Alan