The world according to Fox News...

[astridv]

Yesterday I learned that Fox News Claims Solar Won't Work in America Because It's Not Sunny Like Germany.

And I laughed.

Then I cried a little, specifically when I saw the charts that depict the actual photovoltaic resource of Germany compared to the US. Guys, we're getting less sunlight than Alaska. Alaska. That I did not know. I did know that we're not exactly getting a *lot*... one can't really help but notice. Last month it was an all-time low record of 10 hours. (Ten!) (That was for the entire month of January, where I live.)

I assume Alaska ranks a little higher than us because of all the sun they get during the summer. But still, it's frikking depressing, is what it is. About as depressing as the brain-frying stupidity emanating from Fox News' air waves.

Comments

[ratcreature]

I saw that too. My first thought was along the lines of "if only!" (Though Hamburg had at least 22 hours of sunlight this January, which apparently still was below the longterm average of 39 hours. Still not exactly sunshine rich. And it's such feeble light too, not even enough to make vitamin D via your skin for months!)

[astridv]

My first thought was "Are you mocking us, Fox News?!"

I want their smug so-called expert to spend a few month here. Sunny my ass.

[ratcreature]

Yeah. Though who knows whether their ignorance would be cured by direct experience to the contrary. These people seem fairly inoculated against reality in general. Maybe their minds wouldn't let them perceive it, even while sitting in the dark and dank for some months...

[icarus]

Maybe their minds wouldn't let them perceive it, even while sitting in the dark and dank for some months...

*splut!*

The spluttering sound I made just startled the cat.

[cathexys]

I especially like the idea that all of the US has like the same kind of sun exposure or even daylight. headdesk!!!!

[icarus]

One of my favorite moments. My mind zipped to Fort Lauderdale, then Seattle.

:D

[cathexys]

I know!!! My kids actually get always freaked out when we're in Germany and it doesn't get dark til 11. But I explain to them how in winter it gets dark much earlier, plus, nearly subtropical as we are, there's little dawn or dusk.

It's ridiculous to think one could claim sunshine rate for nearly a continent, just like it's crazy to give an average temperature (she says as it was in the 80s here and I watched the snow storm on tv...)

[astridv]

My kids actually get always freaked out when we're in Germany and it doesn't get dark til 11.

But... but, that's the best part! That's where it tries to make up for all that pale gray blah of winter.

[cathexys]

It totally is, and it's one of the bigger things I miss. But we have the same conversation every night: y'all have to go to bed. But mom, it's still light outside. But it's 10 at night. No, that can't be. It's still light.

Of course they're on vacation, so once they acclimate, it's all good!

[icarus]

Yes, I laughed at that. Came back to it later, and laughed again. When I was an exchange student in Germany (granted it was winter but) it was gray Every. Single. Day.

[astridv]

Yep, sounds like the country I know. (Granted, some years are worse than others...) Why do I live here, again?

[yvi]

*winces* I am not sure I wanted an actual number to put on this feeling of misery. 10 hours...

Though now I am curious where you got this, maybe I can also get the number for Braunschweig there.

[astridv]

I am not sure I wanted an actual number to put on this feeling of misery. 10 hours...

Haha, I know. Though it didn't feel quite that bad to me because for two weeks the ground was covered with snow, making everything appear much brighter than it was.

The countrywide average was 20 hours, normal is 50. Our local paper said that it was 10 where I live.

[ratcreature]

The Deutscher Wetterdienst publishes press releases at the end of each month collating these statistics, broken down by state, and you can find them on their website. I'm not sure where you can find city specific data.

[acari]

Gefunden! http://www.dwd.de/bvbw/appmanager/bvbw/dwdwwwDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=dwdwww_menu2_presse&T98029gsbDocumentPath=Content%2FPresse%2FPressemitteilungen%2F2013%2F20130130__DeutschlandwetterimJanuar2013__news.html

We got 24 hours of sun. A whole day, wow.