Equinox vs Equilux
20th March 2018
Officially the first day of Spring today as it is the equinox – at 4.15pm precisely! The astronomical equinox is when the sun is directly over the equator. However, the day when there is equal day and night length (in Torridon) was last Sunday. This is the equilux and usually differs in time from the equinox due to the angular size of the sun (depending on latitude) and atmospheric refraction. Well there you go!
Spring Quiz Below, the last 3 photos, taken today on the slopes of Fionn Bheinn above Achnasheen, pose questions. The answer to each photo/question will be posted tomorrow.
Otherwise, it was a lovely day with good views and firm snow at all levels and aspects. Good snow cover remains above 650m.
The big vista looking south over Achnasheen, with the hills of upper Strathconon on the left to the hills of Glencarron, Glenuig and Monar on the right.
The big vista looking west from the slopes of Fionn Bheinn. Name them hills. There are 5 (possibly 6) Munros and 2 Corbetts in the photo. Not part of the ‘official’ quiz, but fill yer boots!
Unfortunately, Spring heralds the time of uncontrolled muir burning in the North-West Highlands….
Q1 What are these lines and holes on the grass?
Q2 What are these black streaks in this grassy hillside?
Q3 What snowpack feature is this?
Comments on this post
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Ben Jammin
20th March 2018 8:46 pm
Q1 – vole runs
Q2 – no idea – but looking forward to finding out!
Q3 – glide crack
torridonadmin
21st March 2018 3:38 pm
2 out of 3 ain’t bad Ben.
Mike Birkby
20th March 2018 8:51 pm
1, Vole tunnels? 🙂
2, Don’t know. Different vegetation growth due to drainage beneath snow?
3, Glide crack?
torridonadmin
21st March 2018 3:37 pm
Good answers Mike.
Gramps
20th March 2018 9:05 pm
Hello. Great pictures and script. My answers are:
Q1: Wembley after the 67 pitch invasion;
Q2: The grass in my garden, &
Q3: Glide cracks.
Looking forwards to being enlightened tomorrow, hopefully only regards the first two!
torridonadmin
21st March 2018 3:37 pm
Nice try Gramps – one out of three, but which answer is the correct one??
Patrick
21st March 2018 10:08 am
what’s the prize?!
torridonadmin
21st March 2018 3:33 pm
I can’t tell you unless you enter the quiz.
Bruce Kerr
21st March 2018 12:19 pm
OK Andy, I’ll stick my neck out publicly. I can resist everything except a challenge 🙂 Q1 exposed field mouse tunnels previously under snow Q2 Melt water patterns? Q3 Snow creep. Cheers B
torridonadmin
21st March 2018 3:34 pm
Nice one Bruce. Correct, but rather Vole tunnels than field mouse. Cheers, Andy.