Solar & Daylight Data
Sun Path: Swansea, UK
How to research sun path for a specific site in Swansea — 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 GB dump](https://download.geonames.org/export/dump/GB.zip) (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2636432). Regulatory starting point: [UK and devolved building-control authorities](https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/approved-documents). 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 Swansea at 51.6208, -3.9432, the declination-only solar-noon altitude is approximately 61.8° at the June solstice, 38.4° at an equinox and 14.9° 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 2636432 in administrative area WLS, at 51.6208, -3.9432; replace it with the surveyed parcel point before relying on the result. As a transparent geometry check, declination-only solar-noon altitude is about 61.8° at the June solstice, 38.4° at an equinox and 14.9° at the December solstice. Representative 21st-day geometry ranges from about 7.6 hours in December to 16.4 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 Swansea?
Swansea is represented here at approximately 51.6208, -3.9432 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?
- Fix the surveyed site and local time basis.
- Select an authoritative weather source or a named solar-position algorithm.
- Record period, percentile or scenario and units.
- Test sensitivity to elevation, exposure, urban form and horizon.
- Save the source file, retrieval date and checker in the model record.
| Input | Project-specific evidence | QA question |
|---|---|---|
| Site | surveyed coordinates, elevation and horizon | Does the point represent the building? |
| Weather/solar method | named dataset, algorithm, period and time basis | Are station, time zone and units explicit? |
| Design scenario | current and future scenario agreed by the team | Is an average being mistaken for an extreme? |
| Compliance | adopted local document and edition | Was 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 Swansea site remain authoritative.
Which related searches does this primary location record cover?
This primary route consolidates the location evidence needed for Sun Path, Solar Altitude & Azimuth, Solar Shading Design, Daylight & Orientation. A narrower route should be released only when it adds a materially different official source, calculation, process, threshold or worked example.
Swansea monthly solar geometry check for sun path
| Representative date | Declination | Solar-noon altitude | Geometric daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 January | -20.14° | 18.2° | 8.3 h |
| 21 February | -11.23° | 27.2° | 10.1 h |
| 21 March | -0.40° | 38.0° | 11.9 h |
| 21 April | +11.58° | 50.0° | 14.0 h |
| 21 May | +20.14° | 58.5° | 15.7 h |
| 21 June | +23.45° | 61.8° | 16.4 h |
| 21 July | +20.44° | 58.8° | 15.7 h |
| 21 August | +11.75° | 50.1° | 14.0 h |
| 21 September | -0.20° | 38.2° | 12.0 h |
| 21 October | -11.75° | 26.6° | 10.0 h |
| 21 November | -20.44° | 17.9° | 8.3 h |
| 21 December | -23.45° | 14.9° | 7.6 h |
Month-by-month geometry interpretation
- 21 January: approximate solar-noon altitude 18.2° (zenith angle 71.8°) and 8.3 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 February: approximate solar-noon altitude 27.2° (zenith angle 62.8°) and 10.1 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.7 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 March: approximate solar-noon altitude 38.0° (zenith angle 52.0°) and 11.9 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.9 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 April: approximate solar-noon altitude 50.0° (zenith angle 40.0°) and 14.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.1 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 May: approximate solar-noon altitude 58.5° (zenith angle 31.5°) and 15.7 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.7 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 June: approximate solar-noon altitude 61.8° (zenith angle 28.2°) and 16.4 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.8 hours longer than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 July: approximate solar-noon altitude 58.8° (zenith angle 31.2°) and 15.7 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 August: approximate solar-noon altitude 50.1° (zenith angle 39.9°) and 14.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 September: approximate solar-noon altitude 38.2° (zenith angle 51.8°) and 12.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.1 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 October: approximate solar-noon altitude 26.6° (zenith angle 63.4°) and 10.0 hours of geometric daylight. That is 2.0 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 November: approximate solar-noon altitude 17.9° (zenith angle 72.1°) and 8.3 hours of geometric daylight. That is 1.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
- 21 December: approximate solar-noon altitude 14.9° (zenith angle 75.1°) and 7.6 hours of geometric daylight. That is 0.7 hours shorter than the preceding representative date in this annual sequence.
Harth calculation for latitude 51.6208°: Cooper declination approximation, 90° - |latitude - declination| at solar noon, and centre-to-centre sunrise hour angle. See NOAA's solar calculation details for fuller method context. This screening table excludes equation-of-time/civil-time conversion, atmospheric refraction, terrain, facade azimuth and obstructions; it is not an hourly shading result.
Where can you explore related guidance?
- Explore all solar data guidance
- Sun Path: Plymouth, UK
- Sun Path: Liverpool, UK
- Sun Path: Wolverhampton, UK
- Sun Path: St Helens, UK
Sources and method
Location data from the GeoNames GB dump (CC BY 4.0, snapshot 2026-08-31, GeoNames ID 2636432). Regulatory starting point: UK and devolved building-control authorities. 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.
Source links
Frequently asked questions
What does the sun path record for Swansea establish?
The sun path record for Swansea establishes a reproducible discovery point at 51.6208, -3.9432 (GeoNames ID 2636432, administrative area WLS) and a United Kingdom 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 Swansea?
For the sun path record in Swansea, replace the 51.6208, -3.9432 city reference with the surveyed site or parcel, identify the competent local authority, and verify the current documents under Building Regulations and nation-specific Approved Documents or technical handbooks. Record the edition, retrieval date, units, assumptions and named checker before relying on the result.
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