Platform Shadows movie: 3.6km platform, June 21, Colusa, California Latitude 39.2144.
This shows a precise simulation of the shadow produced on the Summer Solstice by a 3.6km by 3.6km StratoSolar platform situated at Colusa California which is situated at Latitude 39.2144N. North is a line along the platform edge pointing to the left of the screen. The video is sped up considerably and an artifact of the simulation is that each hour is shown as a separate movement with a slight pause.
This shows the relatively small area affected by the shadow and the relatively short duration of the shadow. As the seasons vary the track followed by the shadow varies and so, the area subject to shadow varies. Most locations are only subject to shadow for a short period on a few days during the year. The worst case shadow occurs for areas close to the platform when the sun is highest in the sky at the summer solstice.
This shows the relatively small area affected by the shadow and the relatively short duration of the shadow. As the seasons vary the track followed by the shadow varies and so, the area subject to shadow varies. Most locations are only subject to shadow for a short period on a few days during the year. The worst case shadow occurs for areas close to the platform when the sun is highest in the sky at the summer solstice.
This shows a different view of the same simulation. The platform is closer, and rotated compared to the first video. The line coming out the screen bottom is pointing north. Most tethers are omitted to give a more realistic visual interpretation.