Don’t let the “cooler” weather fool you, sunscreen is still a must
The weather certainly has been a treat here in Mid-Missouri, but precaution is still needed as you head outdoors.
Despite the cooler weather, it is still summer and sunscreen is a huge necessity as you gear up for any outdoor activities.
Sunburns can come at any time of the year and are largely influenced by environmental and atmospheric factors. Temperature has no role in whether you should wear sunscreen or not.
Here in Mid-Missouri, the sun angle is still high in the sky, which is a large contributor to the UV index for the day. Lately, we’ve seen the UV Index fluctuate from low to very high and there’s a reason why this occurs.
The UV index takes into account a variety of things, those being:
– How thick the ozone layer is
The ozone layer absorbs shorter wavelengths more strongly than longer wavelengths. Therefore, the thicker the ozone layer, the more likely you are to have a lower UV Index. Shorter wavelengths are more damaging to the skin than longer wavelengths because they contain more energy.
– Cloud cover for a city
The more cloud coverage in an area, the more UV rays that are blocked from reaching the earth’s surface.
– The time of year (seasons)
The UV index is highest during the spring and summer months and lowest during the fall and winter.
– The elevation for where you live
The air is thinner the higher you live, so therefore the higher you are the greater the threat of UV damage.
– Time of day
The sun is highest in the sky around solar noon, meaning more rays are making it to the earth’s surface. The greater the coverage, the greater the threat of damaging your skin. This is why during the fall and winter months it’s harder to get a sunburn, because the sun has to go through more atmosphere, which absorbs the UV rays.
Other things that account for how much UV rays can penetrate your skin is what covers the land and the latitude at which you live.
It’s for these reasons why the UV index is still set to remain on the highs side despite the pleasant conditions. With plenty of sunny days and the angle of the sun still high, the UV index will remain on the high side. Of course, looming storms as we head through the middle of the week will lower that threat as well as drive many indoors. You can read about that rain chance here and for more on how the UV index is calculated you can visit the EPA’s website here.
Stay with ABC 17 Stormtrack Weather as the unseasonably cooler temperatures stick around and follow us on Twitter @ABC17Stormtrack.
