10

Changing longitude affects sleeping - that's called jet-lag.

But does changing latitude affect sleeping? For example, does flying from Sydney to Tokyo, when the former is in winter, and the latter is in summer, have any affect on sleeping? If so, is there a term for it?

2
  • 4
    I'm not sure what it's called, but I'd think that a sudden change in temperature, sunrise time, sunset time and daylight hours is bound to affect sleep in most people
    – Gagravarr
    Jul 19, 2013 at 14:02
  • I assume you mean in a travel context - but I just found more info that it does, which I'll add to the end of my answer.
    – Mark Mayo
    Jul 19, 2013 at 14:31

3 Answers 3

4

If you travel far enough poleward during summer, you reach the land of the Midnight Sun. That certainly messes up sleep for many people. Although days are not exactly short in the UK or Germany in June or July, it not getting dark at all is a different story algother.

I live in the far north and spent a month in the USA in May. I didn't suffer from jetlag much when I travelled westward, but when I travelled eastward again early June, the complete lack of a night (the Sun set again 3 days ago for the first time since May) was certainly a complicating factor, considering that this was the view from my bedroom at 0:15 the night after I got back.

Bedroom view 0:15

2

About.com is the only site I've ever seen to claim that long north-south flights get the same symptoms as jetlag experienced on other time-zone crossing flights.

Everywhere else, you'll hear that it happens changing timezones only.

Indeed, it's more likely that the long north-south ones are just 'tired' from the long flight, perhaps not sleeping, and the long journey, in the same way that you're tired after a long car ride.

However, having changed seasons mid-winter or mid-summer a few times, I can mention that:

from London to South Africa, and back, London to NZ and back several times, and between the US/Canada and NZ, I certainly noticed the daylight hours. And I suppose this would be a bit of a psychological shock the higher your latitude and the stage of the season. Going from 16 hours of daylight to 6 can be quite distressing, and I even found my first week mid-summer in the UK to be disconcerting with the crazy long evenings.

Between London and NZ you definitely get jetlag. Brutal if flying east. However between the US and Aus, hardly anything, and overnight from London to South Africa and back, I didn't notice anything.

But a word for it? Probably just 'tiredness' :)

edit

So I assume you're talking about the day, or week following travel - however, it's worth noting that science has indeed found a link between latitude and how it affects your sleep.

“People who live near the Equator have a greater tendency to be early risers and to sleep earlier. Closer to the poles, individuals become more vespertine (rising later and going to sleep later),” said Mario Pedrazzoli, professor in the Universidade de São Paulo (USP) School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities

4
  • As for the quote, correlation does not imply causation. Countries near the equator are often poorer countries with many people working in agriculture (starts early) or factories (probably start early too).
    – gerrit
    Jul 19, 2013 at 15:27
  • @gerrit sure, but if you read the paper, it goes further than just that link. That was just the line that neatly summed up their findings.
    – Mark Mayo
    Jul 19, 2013 at 15:54
  • Were you flying from Aus to the west coast of the US? Flying home from Sydney to the east coast of the US wrecked me because my body wanted to sleep at the same time I needed to be back on my job. Jul 19, 2013 at 17:27
  • @DanNeely just a few zones - LAX/SFO to MEL/AKL and vice-versa, but one good sleep and I've been fine. East cost would be a bit harder though.
    – Mark Mayo
    Jul 20, 2013 at 4:22
-2

It has never happened to me. Longest I have traveled is probably Detroit to Tampa Bay. Think of it this way, because you are still in the same time zone and the only activity you have done is travel (though there is an hours difference between the time zones of Sydney and Tokyo) which doesn't affect sleeping pattern.

1
  • This does not answer the question. Perhaps you meant to leave a comment?
    – dotancohen
    Jan 11, 2015 at 19:04

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .