1. Does Distance from the Sun have an Effect on the Average High Temperatures of Cities within 5 Degrees of the Equator
Gavin Benedict

2. Abstract
Perihelion, when earth is closest to the sun, occurs during the first week of January each year. Aphelion, when earth is farthest from the sun, occurs during the first week of July each year. Analyzing the data of the average high temperatures of 37 cities within 5 degrees north of the equator and 5 degrees south, the researcher found that at these locations warmer temperatures occurred when earth is closest to the sun at perihelion.

3. Introduction
The earth's orbit around the sun is not a circle. The earth's orbit around the sun is slightly elliptical. Therefore, the distance between the earth and the sun varies throughout the year. At its nearest point on the ellipse that is the earth's orbit around the sun, the earth is 91,445,000 miles (147,166,462 km) from the sun. This point in the earth's orbit is known as perihelion and it occurs around January 3.
The earth is farthest away from the sun around July 4 when it is 94,555,000 miles (152,171,522 km) from the sun. This point in the earth's orbit is called aphelion. The slight ellipse in the earth's orbit does have a slight impact on the amount of solar energy being received by the earth at perihelion .

5. Methods
The researcher analyzed the average high temperatures in January and July of 37 cities 5 degrees north and south of the equator. The researcher also looked at the mean monthly hours of sunshine for January and July for the 37 cities. Mean hours of sunlight and temperatures were compared within cities at different times with a paired ttest.

6. Data Cities January average high temperature
July average High Temperature
Natal 31 28
Victoria
29.8
28.3
Kinshasa 29
Brazzaville
Mombasa 32
27.7
Fortaleza
30.5
29.5
Bujumbura
Manaus
31.3
Palembang
Sao Luis,Maranhao 30
Guayaquil
Kigali
26.9
27.1
Belem
30.9
31.7
Nairobi
24.5
20.6
Balikpapan
Kismaayo
Quito
19.1
19.8
Pontianak
32.4
32.9
Cities
January average high temperature
July average High Temperature
Macapá
29.7
30.6
Kampala
28.5
26.7
Libreville
29.5
26.4
Singapore
30.1
30.9
Mogadishu
30.2
28.6
Kuala Lumpur
32.1
32.3
Santiago de Cali
32.5
Malabo 31 29
Yaoundé
29.6
26.5
Douala
32.2
28.1
Malé 30
30.4
Bangui 32
Bogotá
20.2
18.6
Juba
36.8
31.1
Bandar Seri Begawan
Cayenne
Abidjan 28
Accra 27
Puerto Ayacucho
34.4
30.3

7. Results/Graph

8. Discussion & Conclusion
The researcher concluded there is a difference in average high temperatures near the equator when the earth is closest to the sun or farthest from the sun. Those temperatures are higher when the planet is closer at perihelion in January.

9. References http://www.skepticalscience.com/print.php?n=837
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