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How many uv rays are there?

22 Apr, 2023 by Dane Raynor

Have you ever laid on the beach, sunscreen in hand, sunglasses on face and wondered just how many UV rays are shining down upon you? It’s a question that plagues sun-worshippers everywhere, and for good reason too. We all know that too much of those pesky ultraviolet rays can lead to sunburns, eye damage and even skin cancer. But how many UV rays are we really dealing with? Let’s take a closer look.

What Are UV Rays?

Before we dive into numbers & statistics regarding UV radiation let’s understand what it actually is. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation refers to the invisible high-energy light waves from the sun which have shorter wavelengths than visible violet light waves. In contrast, Infrared radiation refers to longer wavelength radiations like microwave ovens or thermal cameras than visible red light-based heat systems that could be used by an owl at night time.

UV light is divided into three types: UVA, UVB, and UVC based upon their wavelength ranges from long-to-short respectively; typically measured in nanometers (nm). The ozone layer absorbs most of the Sun’s harmful ultraviolet C (UVC) radiation; thus this type does not present serious dangers t/ohe earth surface.

Types of Ultra Violet Radiation

  • UVA Radiation
  • 320 nm – 400 nm range
  • Least dangerous as it penetrates deeper portions beneath our skin

  • Majorly responsible for photoaging effects exposing our skin under sunlight over time.

  • UVB Radiation

    • Slightly higher frequency ranging between around
      280–320 billionths of a meter with intense energy levels.
    • Potentially more hazardous than UVA due to ability to penetrate relatively shallow depths below your skin resulting mostly in burnings; besides also most closely linked causal link while developing skin cancers.

  • UVC Radiation

  • These are the shortest of all ultraviolet radiation types, which include wavelengths below 280 nm in length.
  • Outright dangerous and generally, filtered out by ozone layer; if somehow reach the earth’s surface would lead to severe irreversible eye damage as well as harm our immune systems.

How Much UV Radiation Reaches Earth?

Our little blue planet is covered with inhabitants trying to survive every day despite its violent reality such as unpredictable weather patterns, sudden meteorites or asteroids falling from space, millions of microorganisms lying underneath & above us ready to invade once we show signs of weakness. On top of this breathtaking danger is our beloved sun showers a ginormous amount sunlight everyday over us!

The amount of UV radiation that reaches Earth’s atmosphere varies widely based on factors that includes time-of-day and year again geography etcetera; it also depends upon sunspot cycle, climate variations like annular eclipse yesterday allowing excessive levels atmospheric UV light entering earth for some minutes only then absorbed back due but got affected majorly during those instants thereof.

Therefore rather than stating exact figures let me give you an average figure (if it makes you happy) i.e around 10% uv rays get through troposphere layer uninterrupted arriving directly towards ground whereas rest attenuates depending upon several variations aforementioned–of course holding different altitudes exposure rates varies.

Factors Affecting Exposure Rates

To fully understand how much radiation one can be exposed to requires consideration various contributing factors since they have a massively diverse effect on individual situations:

  1. Time Of Day

    • Between 11:00 AM – 4 PM when sun is exactly overhead

  2. Weather

    • Clouds lower intensity approximating roughly half compared sunny days onslaught

  3. Altitude

    Higher elevation leads higher risk factor since thinner atmosphere letting through UV rays easily

  4. Distance from Equator 

    • More exposure in locations nearer to the equator because sun rays fall more directly as that area lies near the subtropical and tropical zones

  5. Season / Time of Year

    Summer Days have greater potential for radiation damage than winter

Measuring Ultraviolet Radiation

But just how do we measure this mystical “UV” light? The amount of UV is measured on an index known as the UV Index which indicates the intensity of UV radiation hitting a given location at a specific point in time.

Typically, The scale runs 0-11+ with 2 rating zero risk whereas 11+ means reaching extreme levels thereby mandating complete protection such wearing long-sleeve apparels & refraining outdoor activities during peak timings; best practice involves consulting safety measures according to expert opinions by departments responsible nationally/internationally i.e FDA because they are trained professionals specializing addressing these types situations specifically focusing preserving health people worldwide.

What Does It Mean For You?

So what does all this mean for you and your skin? Firstly, don’t panic! Remember that not all SPF (Sun Protection Factor) values need applied equally so finding ideal sunscreen suitable needs determination rather than assumptions since everyone’s body works differently. Secondly be mindful when choosing precautions based upon your geographical region or time-of-day spent where those may evaluated factors influencing chances getting differntiation below/above average measurements involve associated risks attributed thereto eventualities resulting therefrom themselves sometime months afterwards.

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