I would imagine that it is linked to the rainward side of the Urals, which I would imagine have more cloud and so would promote a selection for improved Vitamin D production, as with Ireland.
Waaay too specific to the local environment, and honestly just too neat and logical. Almost certainly, some ginger dude really “got around” in the minor tribe that later became a local genocidal empire. Possibly all before written history began.
Humans basically just stepped out of Africa in evolutionary terms. Even Europe isn’t a neat selection story like that - the white skin comes from steppe nomad invasions, while the blue eyes were from the original inhabitants, who had black skin.
A good deal of the current Scottish population are descended from the Irish, which goes some way to explaining that side of your comparison, but I am not aware of Finland being particularly cloudy.
I have not consulted any climatic records, but I would have expected it to be less cloudy than the rest of Scandinavia, really, since the rain will have been deposited on the mountain in Norway and Sweden before the air masses reach Finland.
I would imagine that it is linked to the rainward side of the Urals, which I would imagine have more cloud and so would promote a selection for improved Vitamin D production, as with Ireland.
Waaay too specific to the local environment, and honestly just too neat and logical. Almost certainly, some ginger dude really “got around” in the minor tribe that later became a local genocidal empire. Possibly all before written history began.
Humans basically just stepped out of Africa in evolutionary terms. Even Europe isn’t a neat selection story like that - the white skin comes from steppe nomad invasions, while the blue eyes were from the original inhabitants, who had black skin.
Uh, the Northern latitudes have a bit to do with it, sure.
But you’ll notice the northern most part of Scotland is still further south than the southernmost point of Finland, yet there’s less gingers.
Do you know another thing which influences the prevalence of gingers?
Incest.
A good deal of the current Scottish population are descended from the Irish, which goes some way to explaining that side of your comparison, but I am not aware of Finland being particularly cloudy.
I have not consulted any climatic records, but I would have expected it to be less cloudy than the rest of Scandinavia, really, since the rain will have been deposited on the mountain in Norway and Sweden before the air masses reach Finland.
The upper third of Finland is in the Arctic circle, I should remind you.
Do you disagree that the further away from the equator you go, the less sun you get, and the less effective that sunshine is?
I should like to remind you that Finland has the highest prevalence of blondes in the world. And what is that an adaptation to, do you know?
I’m just joshing you about the incest, but it is a thing.
However it’s a bit more complex as to why Northern Europe has less gingers, and I’m sure it’s not because there’s no invest.
https://www.eupedia.com/genetics/origins_of_red_hair.shtml#45th_parallel
but clouds don’t really affect light levels that much, meanwhile up north it’s just… straight up night for most of the day during the winter.