As the cold days are slowly leaving (let's hope), all people are dreaming about spring and summer with more sun. We are officially at the end of winter, but when does spring spring and warm weather begin? When will I touch it, finally?
When does spring start?
The way to determine the first day of spring depends on the determination of astronomical or meteorological seasons. This year, spring will be between March 20 and June 21, if we consider the astronomical method. But it starts a little earlier, between March 1 and May 31, if we follow the meteorological calendar.
How is the first spring date set?
According to 'Met Office', meteorological seasons are based on the annual cycle of temperatures and the state of the atmosphere. Even meteorological seasons co-ordinate in three seasons. The use of this system determines: Spring (March, April, May), Summer (June, July, August), Autumn (September, October, November) and Winter (December, January, February). With this system, spring starts on March 1 and ends on May 31.
But why do spring dates vary every year?
Other systems use astronomical seasons. Referring to the Earth's orbit position regarding the equinox calculation (when the length of day is exactly the same as the length of the night) and the solstice (the longest and shorter days of the year), true spring begins after 20 March.
The astronomical calendar sets the seasons when the revolving axis of the Earth is 23.5 degrees in relation to its orbit around the sun. So according to this system, spring begins on March 20 and ends on June 21st.
However, if spring comes on 1 or 20 March, more depends on each's preference for the calendar system.
