1. What is the Alaska Daylight Hours Calculator?

Definition: This calculator estimates the number of daylight hours in Alaska based on the solar declination angle.

Purpose: It helps residents, travelers, and researchers understand daylight variations in Alaska's extreme latitudes.

2. How Does the Calculator Work?

The calculator uses the formula:

Where:

• Hours — Daylight duration (hours)
• 64 — Alaska's approximate latitude (64°N)
• δ — Solar declination angle (degrees)

Explanation: The formula calculates the fraction of the day when the sun is above the horizon at Alaska's latitude.

3. Importance of Daylight Calculation

Details: Understanding daylight hours is crucial for energy planning, outdoor activities, agriculture, and dealing with seasonal variations in Alaska.

4. Using the Calculator

Tips: Enter the solar declination angle (between -23.5° and 23.5°). The calculator uses Alaska's fixed latitude of 64°N.

5. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: What is solar declination?
A: The angle between the sun's rays and Earth's equatorial plane, varying between ±23.5° throughout the year.

Q2: Why is Alaska's latitude fixed at 64°N?
A: This represents a central Alaskan latitude; actual values vary slightly across the state.

Q3: How accurate is this calculation?
A: It provides theoretical maximum daylight; atmospheric conditions may slightly affect actual daylight.

Q4: What's the maximum daylight hours possible?
A: At summer solstice (δ ≈ 23.5°), Alaska can experience up to 24 hours of daylight.

Q5: How does this differ from lower latitudes?
A: The formula works for any latitude, but Alaska's high latitude creates extreme seasonal variations.