Sun Elevation in the Arctic

North America, Greenland, South Greenland, Cape Farewell Region
Author: Hans Christian Florian. Climb Year: N/A. Publication Year: 2009.

 In AAJ 2008, pp. 194-195 the author states, “The sun never dipped less than 40° above the horizon.” Actually, the sun would never rise above ca 37°. The formula for the approximate elevation of the sun at midday on midsummer’s day is 23.5° + (90-X)°, where X is the latitude of the location. As Louise Land is ca N 77°, the maximum elevation would be 36.5°. Although a small point, I just had to get it out of my system.