In which season is the intensity difference between early afternoon and late afternoon less dramatic due to the sun climbing higher overall?
Answer
Summer months.
The degree of change in sunlight intensity between early afternoon and late afternoon depends on how high the sun climbs in the sky relative to the season. During the summer months, the sun reaches a significantly higher overall angle in the sky. This higher trajectory means that the atmospheric path length changes less drastically between the peak energy delivery period (early afternoon) and the subsequent late afternoon hours. Conversely, in winter, the sun never achieves a high enough angle, meaning the path interference remains relatively significant throughout the day, leading to a more noticeable shift in quality as the late afternoon progresses.
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