Everyday Canvas

Summer 2024

Prompt: I know it's early but what are your summer plans? Write about this in your Blog entry today.

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Sorry, but I don't have any specific summer plans. This may be because I'm old and also because whenever I make plans for any long-distance future, you can be sure I'd end up with disappointment or heartbreak much more often than not. So, I'm even hesitant to answer SMS's "Weekly Goals" . Yes, you guessed it right. I don't like to disappoint myself. I can take disappointments from others much, much better. That's the weirdo me, here!

I can, however, write about summers and what they are good for. Summers come in with longer days, higher temperatures, and increased solar radiation in many parts of the world. Even so, summers help regulate the earth's climate. According to those who know, (Thanks, Google!) "During summer, the Earth's axial tilt causes the sun's rays to strike the Northern Hemisphere more directly, leading to longer daylight hours and increased solar radiation. This surplus of solar energy warms the surface of the Earth, influencing atmospheric circulation patterns and ocean currents."

Then, "Higher temperatures during summer accelerate the process of evaporation, causing water from oceans, lakes, and rivers to transform into water vapor and enter the atmosphere. This increased moisture in the air leads to the formation of clouds and eventually precipitation in the form of rain, which is crucial for replenishing freshwater sources, supporting plant growth, and sustaining ecosystems."

In addition, "Summer provides optimal conditions for photosynthesis, the process by which plants use sunlight to convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and glucose. The abundance of sunlight and warmth during this season promotes rapid plant growth, leading to increased vegetation cover on land. Plants act as carbon sinks, absorbing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and storing it in their biomass and soil. This process helps regulate atmospheric carbon levels, mitigating the impacts of climate change by reducing greenhouse gas concentrations."

Also, there's what they call the Albedo effect, which has to do with the polar regions absorbing solar radiation etc. Added to that are the weather patterns and atmospheric circulation that have to do with the high and low pressure systems, which our weather-casting news people always make a mess of. This has to do with the distribution of heat and cold, if I understood correctly.

And still, if I understood correctly, summers are much more than what we complain about here in Florida. They are among the weather agents of nature that play tricks on us.

Have a Happy Summer of 2024!