Spring has officially arrived and people living in the Northern Hemisphere have a lot to look forward to including sunny days, warm weather and even a new spring inspired Google Doodle.
The first day of spring is marked by the arrival of the Vernal Equinox, also known as the Spring Equinox. The equinox marks the end of winter and the longer nights are shortened and days become warmer. The word equinox literally means "equal night" in Latin. Due to changes in the Earth's axis, the planet gets an equal amount of night and daylight. However, having equally long days and nights during the Vernal Equinox can only be observed in certain areas in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres such as Florida in the North and Melbourne in the South.
The U.S. Naval Observatory says that the Spring Equinox will occur exactly at 12:57 p.m. (EST) today.
During the Spring Equinox, the Earth is tilted at an angle of 23.5 degrees compared to the ecliptic plane. Due to this specific angle, both the Northern and Southern Hemispheres received approximately the same amount of sunlight.
Throughout history, astronomical events such as equinoxes and solstices have played a significant part in many cultures around the world. These events often dictated hunting, harvesting, planting and a wide variety of other human practices.
The Jewish Passover is often celebrated during the first full moon following the Spring Equinox. Moreover, Easter Sunday also occurs relative to the coming of the Spring Equinox. Easter happens during the first Sunday following the first full moon after the Spring Equinox.
While spring is officially here, parts of the United States continue to experience a lot of snowfall. This is caused by the fact that it takes time for the oceans to heat up or cool down. Since the oceans in the Northern Hemisphere are still very cold from last winter, it will take a while before it heats up. Because of this, the onset of warmer weather can be delayed by as much as 90 days. The opposite also happens in the fall where it can take some time for the cold weather to set in.
To celebrate the coming of spring, Google has also put up a new animated Google Doodle commemorating the spring equinox. The new doodle shows an animated character carrying a watering can. The character proceeds to pour water on the ground where trees and flowers start to sprout.
