Solskenstiden

Solskenstiden is a Norwegian term used in meteorology and everyday language to describe a period characterized by sunshine. It can refer to both a daily measure of sunshine duration and to a longer spell of clear, sunny weather. The word is formed from sol (sun) + sken (shine) + tid/en (time/period). In meteorological practice, the duration of bright sunshine is recorded as hours of sunshine per day, often using a Campbell–Stokes recorder or modern pyranometers. A solskenstiden can be defined as a continuous stretch of days where each day includes sunshine above a defined threshold, or more loosely as an extended spell of fine weather with abundant sunshine.

Seasonal patterns: In Norway and other high-latitude regions, solskenstiden is longer in summer and shorter in winter, with coastal areas influenced by Atlantic weather. In the far north, the phenomenon can approach the midnight sun, where solskenstiden effectively lasts 24 hours in some locations during midsummer.

Applications and significance: Sizable periods of sunshine affect agriculture, solar energy production, and tourism. In climate statistics, the term may appear in summaries of sunshine duration, annual sunshine totals, or seasonal norms.

Variations: In common usage, solskenstiden is sometimes used more loosely to describe any sunny spell, whereas technical reports specify the measured metric and threshold. See also: hours of sunshine, sunshine duration, solar radiation.