00:00A social media post claiming the aphelion phenomenon, which will cause colder than usual
00:05weather in the Philippines until August, is false. The post warns the public of prolonged
00:10cold weather supposedly caused by the increased distance between the Earth and the Sun.
00:14But State Weather Bureau Pagasa says aphelion, or the point at which Earth is farthest from the Sun,
00:19does not affect the Earth's weather. Seasonal changes on Earth are primarily influenced by
00:24the planet's axial tilt, not its orbital distance. Pagasa also explains the cool weather
00:30experienced in parts of the Philippines this January is caused by the Northeast Monsoon,
00:35locally known as Amihan. Aphelion is projected to occur on July 7, 2026, not January 2026,
00:42as the post claims. Johns Hopkins Medicine and The Conversation say colds and flu are caused by
00:48viruses, not cold weather.
Comments