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Sunburn effect (as measured by the UV index) is the product of the sunlight power spectrum (radiation intensity) and the erythemal action spectrum (skin sensitivity) across the range of UV wavelengths. [9] [10] The UV index is a number linearly related to the intensity of sunburn-producing UV radiation at a given point on the Earth's surface.
The WHO-standard ultraviolet index is a widely publicized measurement of total strength of UV wavelengths that cause sunburn on human skin, by weighting UV exposure for action spectrum effects at a given time and location. This standard shows that most sunburn happens due to UV at wavelengths near the boundary of the UVA and UVB bands.
The Fitzpatrick scale has been criticized for its Eurocentric bias and insufficient representation of global skin color diversity. [9] The scale originally was developed for classifying "white skin" in response to solar radiation, [2] and initially included only four categories focused on white skin, with "brown" and "black" skin types (V and VI) added as an afterthought.
In frequency (and thus energy), UV rays sit between the violet end of the visible spectrum and the X-ray range. The UV wavelength spectrum ranges from 399 nm to 10 nm and is divided into 3 sections: UVA, UVB, and UVC. UV is the lowest energy range energetic enough to ionize atoms, separating electrons from them, and thus causing chemical reactions.
Highest ultraviolet index measured: On 29 December 2003, a UV index of 43.3 was detected at Chile/Bolivia's Licancabur volcano, at 19,423 feet (5,920 m) altitude. A light-skinned individual in such conditions may experience moderate sunburn in as little as 4 minutes.
Thus, it's especially important to cite the source for an index measurement if precision is required. In general, an index of refraction is a complex number with both a real and imaginary part, where the latter indicates the strength of absorption loss at a particular wavelength—thus, the imaginary part is sometimes called the extinction ...
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Consider the sunburn, a deterministic effect: [4] when exposed to bright sunlight for only ten minutes [5] at a high UV Index, that is to say a high average dose rate, [6] the skin can turn red and painful. The same total amount of energy from indirect sunlight spread out over several years - a low average dose rate - would not cause a sunburn ...