Why does the tropical sun feel hotter in the evening?

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SUMMARY

The discussion centers on the perception of heat from the tropical sun, particularly in relation to the orientation of homes and the time of day. It is established that west-facing homes experience significantly higher temperatures in the evening due to the sun's angle and atmospheric conditions. The participant notes that while sunrise and sunset should theoretically provide similar heat energy, the increased atmospheric particles during sunset contribute to a heightened sensation of heat. This phenomenon is particularly pronounced in equatorial regions, where the sun's intensity is consistently high throughout the day.

PREREQUISITES
  • Understanding of solar angles and their effects on temperature
  • Knowledge of atmospheric science, particularly regarding particulate matter
  • Familiarity with the concept of thermal sensation and heat perception
  • Basic principles of home orientation and its impact on indoor climate
NEXT STEPS
  • Research solar angle calculations for different times of day
  • Explore the effects of atmospheric particles on temperature perception
  • Study thermal comfort principles in architectural design
  • Investigate the impact of geographical location on climate and heat distribution
USEFUL FOR

This discussion is beneficial for climatologists, architects, and anyone interested in understanding the effects of solar exposure on indoor environments, particularly in tropical regions.

mdique
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Dear friends,

I'm currently living at the equator. Here, homes that have primarily east facing windows are hotter than north or south facing houses, but still bearable. However, homes that are west facing are almost inhospitably hot unless some kind of air conditioning is used. As far as I know, differences in the suns heat throughout the day is largely caused by the angle of the sun to the surface of the earth. In that case, sunrise and sunset should have the same heat energy, unless there are some atmospheric differences at different times of day? As far as I know the colour of sunset is attributed to the increase of particles in the air, but shouldn't this make sunset cooler than sunrise?
So any of you have any idea why this is the case in the tropics, I would love to know. I'm stumped.
 
Physics news on Phys.org
It is usually hotter in the afternoon. If you are already hot then being heated by the sun feels hotter.
 

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