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Times of Oman
02-08-2025
- General
- Times of Oman
Students told about historical importance of palm trees
Ibra: A student community initiative titled 'The Palm Tree: A Heritage Throughout History' was organised on Saturday in the Wilayat of Al Mudhaibi, North Al Sharqiyah Governorate. The initiative was implemented by the Citizenship Department of the Ministry of Education, with the participation of more than 50 male and female students from the summer programme in Al Suwairij village in Samad Ash-Shan. Subha bint Sulaiman Al Hemaili, Senior Educational Researcher at the Citizenship Department of the Ministry of Education, explained that the initiative stems from the importance of the palm trees in Omani society and aims to preserve its history. It aims to educate students about its significance, components, and the source of livelihood it has been for Omanis throughout the ages. She noted that the initiative promotes the values of citizenship and preserves the authentic Omani tradition in dealing with the palm tree and its exploitation in all its stages. She stressed that the initiative highlights the components of the palm tree and the importance of each one, introduces the historical heritage of the palm tree throughout history, and introduces participants to its types and varieties, the most prominent industries emerging from it, and its economic importance. It also highlights the initiative's role in promoting the need to preserve the palm tree and pursue professions associated with it, considering it an integral part of the national identity and culture of Omani society. The initiative also included an introduction to ancient irrigation systems such as the aflaj, methods of dividing water among farmers, methods of selling aflaj shares, and traditional irrigation times based on knowing the times in the past by the stars, or what is known as "sawar."
Times of Oman
18-06-2025
- Climate
- Times of Oman
Oman set to welcome Summer Solstice and Khareef 2025
Muscat: Astronomically, Saturday, June 21, 2025, will mark the first day of summer and the beginning of Dhofar's Khareef season in the Sultanate of Oman. The Summer Solstice commences when the Sun's rays are directly overhead at the Tropic of Cancer. This day officially ushers in Astronomical Summer for the Northern Hemisphere, with the season lasting approximately 93 days, 15 hours, and 37 minutes. Al Mukhtar bin Saif Al Saeedi, a member of the Omani Society for Astronomy and Space, confirmed that this year's Summer Solstice will occur on Saturday, June 21, at 6:42 a.m. Oman time. In Muscat Governorate, the sun will rise at 5:21 a.m., reach its central position at 12:09 p.m., and set at 6:57 p.m. Daytime in Muscat will extend for 13 hours, 35 minutes, and 35 seconds, making it the longest day of the year and the shortest night across most regions of the Northern Hemisphere, including Europe, Asia, North America, and the Arctic. Al Saeedi explained that while the summer solstice signals the start of summer in the Northern Hemisphere, it simultaneously marks the first day of winter (winter solstice) in the Southern Hemisphere. The Earth's two primary movements—its daily rotation on its axis and its annual orbit around the sun—are responsible for the alternation of day and night and the changing seasons, respectively. The 23.5-degree tilt of the Earth's axis of rotation relative to its orbit around the sun is the fundamental reason for these solstices and equinoxes. He further clarified that these astronomical events do not directly dictate temperature changes, as surface temperatures are influenced more by climatic and atmospheric factors like air currents, heat waves, and wind patterns, which are weather-related rather than strictly seasonal. Al Saeedi highlighted several phenomena accompanying this astronomical event on Earth, including: The astronomical commencement of the Dhofar Khareef season, which impacts the coastal wilayats of Dhofar Governorate, stretching from Dhalkut in the west to Mirbat in the east. This season is characterized by monsoon winds and the influx of clouds from the Arabian Sea and Indian Ocean. The absence of a noon shadow in areas located directly on the Tropic of Cancer, such as Al Amerat, Fanja, Wadi Al Maawil, Rustaq, and Ibri. On this day, the Sun will rise from its farthest point in the northeast and set at its farthest point in the northwest. The number of night hours will shorten, and daytime hours will lengthen, subsequently beginning to decrease until the Autumnal Equinox on September 22, when day and night hours will be equal.
