ELi5: In the Northern Hemisphere, why are the typically warmest days of the year after the longest days of sunlight?

Question

ELi5: In the Northern Hemisphere, why are the typically warmest days of the year after the longest days of sunlight?

In: 4

Answer 1

Imagine you have a job where you get paid one dollar per hour of sunlight, and you have a lifestyle where you spend exactly the same amount of money each day— approximately $12*60 = $720 per day, or twelve hours’ worth.

When will you have the greatest amount of money in your bank account? It won’t be the day you get your biggest paycheck. After all, the next day, you’ll get almost as big a check, and still only have to spend the over-the-whole-year average amount of money. In fact, your balance will keep growing— by a little less each day, but still growing— until the autumn solstice, when you’ll reach break-even, and then start running a deficit.