Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Coquitlam, Canada

How to research sun path for a specific site in Coquitlam — the controlling authority, source documents, and checks to run before you rely on a number.

Last updated August 31, 2026 · Location data from the [GeoNames CA dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/CA.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5927690). Regulatory starting point: [Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority](https://nrc.canada.ca/en/certifications-evaluations-standards/codes-canada/codes-canada-publications). Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: [NOAA Solar Calculation Details](https://gml.noaa.gov/grad/solcalc/calcdetails.html); the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.

Direct answer

For Coquitlam at 49.2846, -122.7822, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 64.2° at the June solstice, 40.7° at an equinox and 17.3° at the December solstice. Refine these geometry checks with the project date, civil time, facade azimuth, terrain and local horizon. The reproducible location record is GeoNames ID 5927690 in administrative area 02, at 49.2846, -122.7822; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 64.2° at the June solstice, 40.7° at an equinox and 17.3° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 8.0 hours in December to 16.0 hours in June; this excludes atmospheric refraction, terrain and obstruction effects. The cited national authority is a discovery starting point; current local documents and a named qualified reviewer control project use of this sun path record.

Prepared by Harth · Prepared from the cited location and country sources; local project inputs remain unreviewed · Published 2026-08-26 · Updated 2026-08-31.

What must be verified for Coquitlam?

Coquitlam is represented here at approximately 49.2846, -122.7822 for discovery and workflow planning. A project address, parcel, elevation, exposure, authority, and submission date must replace that city-centre reference before design use.

How should sun path be established?

  1. Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
  2. Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
  3. Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
  4. Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
  5. Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
InputProject-specific evidenceQA question
Sitesurveyed coordinates, elevation and horizonDoes the point represent the building?
Weather/solar methodnamed dataset, algorithm, period and time basisAre station, time zone and units explicit?
Design scenariocurrent and future scenario agreed by the teamIs an average being mistaken for an extreme?
Complianceadopted local document and editionWas applicability confirmed with the authority?

What are the limits of this worksheet?

This sun-path-workflow page is a project-starting worksheet, not a design value or approval. The controlling authority and qualified professionals for the Coquitlam site remain authoritative.

Coquitlam monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°20.58°8.637 h2.664
21 February-11.23°29.49°10.222 h1.768
21 March-0.40°40.31°11.937 h1.179
21 April+11.58°52.29°13.836 h0.773
21 May+20.14°60.85°15.363 h0.558
21 June+23.45°64.17°16.036 h0.484
21 July+20.44°61.16°15.422 h0.551
21 August+11.75°52.47°13.866 h0.768
21 September-0.20°40.51°11.969 h1.170
21 October-11.75°28.96°10.134 h1.807
21 November-20.44°20.27°8.578 h2.707
21 December-23.45°17.27°7.964 h3.217

Coquitlam solar-geometry fingerprint at 49.2846, -122.7822

  • Coquitlam, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 20.58°, zenith 69.42°, geometric daylight 8.637 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.664.
  • Coquitlam, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 29.49°, zenith 60.51°, geometric daylight 10.222 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.768.
  • Coquitlam, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 40.31°, zenith 49.69°, geometric daylight 11.937 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.179.
  • Coquitlam, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 52.29°, zenith 37.71°, geometric daylight 13.836 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.773.
  • Coquitlam, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 60.85°, zenith 29.15°, geometric daylight 15.363 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.558.
  • Coquitlam, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 64.17°, zenith 25.83°, geometric daylight 16.036 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.484.
  • Coquitlam, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 61.16°, zenith 28.84°, geometric daylight 15.422 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.551.
  • Coquitlam, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 52.47°, zenith 37.53°, geometric daylight 13.866 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.768.
  • Coquitlam, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 40.51°, zenith 49.49°, geometric daylight 11.969 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.170.
  • Coquitlam, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 28.96°, zenith 61.04°, geometric daylight 10.134 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.807.
  • Coquitlam, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 20.27°, zenith 69.73°, geometric daylight 8.578 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.707.
  • Coquitlam, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 17.27°, zenith 72.73°, geometric daylight 7.964 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 3.217.

Harth computed the Coquitlam fingerprint for latitude 49.2846° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -122.7822° is retained for a later civil-time conversion; this screen does not perform that conversion. See NOAA's solar calculation details. Atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions remain outside this first-pass comparison.

Sources and method

Location data from the GeoNames CA dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 5927690). Regulatory starting point: Codes Canada and the applicable provincial or territorial authority. Figures are illustrative — verify against the current locally adopted edition for the site. Solar-method context: NOAA Solar Calculation Details; the Harth monthly table uses a simpler declination and geometric-daylight approximation whose stated limitations must be retained.

Frequently asked questions

What does the sun path record for Coquitlam establish?

The sun path record for Coquitlam establishes a reproducible discovery point at 49.2846, -122.7822 (GeoNames ID 5927690, administrative area 02) and a Canada source path. It does not establish a final project value, approval or parcel decision.

What must be replaced before using this sun path workflow for a project in Coquitlam?

For the sun path record in Coquitlam, replace the 49.2846, -122.7822 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under National Building Code of Canada plus provincial, territorial, and municipal adoption. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.

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