Solar & Daylight Data

Updated 2026-08-31

Sun Path: Gloucester, Canada

How to research sun path for a specific site in Gloucester — 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 5962204). 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 Gloucester at 45.3500, -75.6333, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 68.1° at the June solstice, 44.6° at an equinox and 21.2° 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 5962204 in administrative area 08, at 45.3500, -75.6333; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 68.1° at the June solstice, 44.6° at an equinox and 21.2° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 8.5 hours in December to 15.5 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 Gloucester?

Gloucester is represented here at approximately 45.3500, -75.6333 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 Gloucester site remain authoritative.

Gloucester monthly solar geometry check for sun path

Representative dateDeclinationSolar-noon altitudeGeometric daylightNoon shadow / height
21 January-20.14°24.51°9.095 h2.193
21 February-11.23°33.42°10.455 h1.515
21 March-0.40°44.25°11.946 h1.027
21 April+11.58°56.23°13.596 h0.669
21 May+20.14°64.79°14.905 h0.471
21 June+23.45°68.10°15.473 h0.402
21 July+20.44°65.09°14.956 h0.464
21 August+11.75°56.40°13.621 h0.664
21 September-0.20°44.45°11.973 h1.019
21 October-11.75°32.90°10.379 h1.546
21 November-20.44°24.21°9.044 h2.224
21 December-23.45°21.20°8.527 h2.578

Gloucester solar-geometry fingerprint at 45.3500, -75.6333

  • Gloucester, 21 January: declination -20.14°, noon altitude 24.51°, zenith 65.49°, geometric daylight 9.095 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.193.
  • Gloucester, 21 February: declination -11.23°, noon altitude 33.42°, zenith 56.58°, geometric daylight 10.455 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.515.
  • Gloucester, 21 March: declination -0.40°, noon altitude 44.25°, zenith 45.75°, geometric daylight 11.946 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.027.
  • Gloucester, 21 April: declination +11.58°, noon altitude 56.23°, zenith 33.77°, geometric daylight 13.596 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.669.
  • Gloucester, 21 May: declination +20.14°, noon altitude 64.79°, zenith 25.21°, geometric daylight 14.905 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.471.
  • Gloucester, 21 June: declination +23.45°, noon altitude 68.10°, zenith 21.90°, geometric daylight 15.473 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.402.
  • Gloucester, 21 July: declination +20.44°, noon altitude 65.09°, zenith 24.91°, geometric daylight 14.956 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.464.
  • Gloucester, 21 August: declination +11.75°, noon altitude 56.40°, zenith 33.60°, geometric daylight 13.621 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 0.664.
  • Gloucester, 21 September: declination -0.20°, noon altitude 44.45°, zenith 45.55°, geometric daylight 11.973 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.019.
  • Gloucester, 21 October: declination -11.75°, noon altitude 32.90°, zenith 57.10°, geometric daylight 10.379 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 1.546.
  • Gloucester, 21 November: declination -20.44°, noon altitude 24.21°, zenith 65.79°, geometric daylight 9.044 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.224.
  • Gloucester, 21 December: declination -23.45°, noon altitude 21.20°, zenith 68.80°, geometric daylight 8.527 hours, and vertical-object noon shadow ratio 2.578.

Harth computed the Gloucester fingerprint for latitude 45.3500° with the Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle and 1 / tan(altitude) shadow ratio. Longitude -75.6333° 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 5962204). 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 Gloucester establish?

The sun path record for Gloucester establishes a reproducible discovery point at 45.3500, -75.6333 (GeoNames ID 5962204, administrative area 08) 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 Gloucester?

For the sun path record in Gloucester, replace the 45.3500, -75.6333 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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