During summer, the Earth's orbit brings Australia closer to the sun (as compared to Europe during its summer), resulting in an additional 7% solar UV intensity. Coupled with our clearer atmospheric conditions, this means that Australians are exposed to up to 15% more UV than Europeans.
Australia experiences some of the highest levels of UV in the world. Different factors affect our UV levels including: location: UV levels are highest along the equator. Australia is near the equator so we experience high UV levels.
Australia has some of the highest levels of UV radiation in the world – in fact, UV radiation is strong enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes on a fine summer day. UV radiation from the sun is also one of the best natural sources for vitamin D so a balance is important.
The elliptical orbit of the Earth places the Southern Hemisphere closer to the sun during its summer months than the Northern Hemisphere during its summer. This means that the summer sun in Australia is 7 to 10 percent stronger than similar latitudes in the Northern Hemisphere.
Map of peak UVI, using a modified colour scale to highlight the absolute peaks. Figure 2 uses a modified colour scale and shows that the highest values of UVI occur in the Peruvian Andes and throughout the Altiplano region. The maximum UVI of 25 is for the grid cell at 13.5° S, 172° W, centred on Cuzco in Peru.
UV problem of another kind
"Tasmania is unique with the fact that in summer it gets to extreme level, and in winter it doesn't even get to moderate," Mr Carr said.
The safest countries are found in Scandinavia, with Finland boasting the lowest average (2.17) and Sweden, Norway and Denmark not far behind.
In terms of energy, the sun is stronger in Australia due to it being closer to the equator. But in terms of UV light which causes sunburn, it is stronger in New Zealand due to a thinner ozone layer, and less pollution (clearer air).
New Zealand's rather cool and temperate temperatures can easily hide the harmful effects of the sun. Yet in any season and any weather, the New Zealand sun can burn. Many people say they get more sunburned in New Zealand than anywhere else in the world, even Australia!
The lowest values occur in June-July where the UV Index averages less than 2 over Tasmania, increasing to almost 8-9 in far northern Australia.
Australia gets more ultraviolet light from sunlight than many other places do. Melanin in cells absorbs ultraviolet light and prevents it from being absorbed by other parts of the cell which can be damaged.
Solariums and tanning
Today it is illegal to operate a commercial solarium anywhere in Australia. There is no such thing as a safe tan – whether from the sun or a solarium.
The hole still exists but scientists project the ozone layer to return to a condition not seen since before 1980 by about 2050.
Because the southern hemisphere has less ozone to block dangerous sun rays, and the orbit of the earth takes us closer to the sun (especially during the summer months), Australians are in a unique position of experiencing too much sun exposure.
The stratospheric ozone layer absorbs the biologically damaging wavelengths of ultraviolet (UV) rays but in the 1970s, Australia's ozone layer was severely thinned as a consequence of heavy use of ozone-depleting, substances such as chloroflurocarbons (CFCs) and hydro-chloroflurocarbons (HCFCs).
The southern hemisphere tends to have more UV exposure because of the ozone hole, a seasonal depletion of the ozone layer centered on the South Pole. There are also fewer particles of air pollution — which help block UV — due to the comparatively small numbers of people who live in the southern hemisphere.
Dr Ahmad Hasanien, a skin cancer expert explained that 'During summer, the Earth's orbit brings Australia closer to the sun, resulting in an additional 7% solar UV intensity. Coupled with our clearer atmospheric conditions, this means that Australians are exposed to up to 15% more UV than Europeans'.
On December 29, 2003, a world-record ground-level UV index of 43.3 was detected at Bolivia's Licancabur volcano, though other scientists dispute readings higher than 26.
The sun's rays are strongest at the equator where the sun is most directly overhead and where UV rays must travel the shortest distance through the atmosphere.
The ozone layer over New Zealand is thinner.
Unfortunately, due to decades of man-made gas emissions, the ozone layer over New Zealand has continuously thinned. The ozone layer is like the Earth's personal sun protectant. The ozone layer's role is to absorb the harmful UV rays that are sent from the sun.
First, Earth's elliptical orbit means it is closest to the sun in the New Zealand summer months of December and January. Second, New Zealand's relatively clean air means UV radiation is less likely to be scattered by airborne-pollution and more UV radiation reaches the ground.
Answer and Explanation: There is no hole in the ozone layer above Australia. However, there is a hole that develops in late winter over Antarctica, a nearby continent.
So UV radiation is particularly high close to the equator, for instance in Florida, Thailand or Central America. It is also high in Australia and New Zealand because these countries are near the hole in the ozone layer above the Antarctic. The thinner the ozone layer, the stronger the UV radiation levels.
But many have wondered, is the sun getting stronger? It's a question News 8 wanted to VERIFY. According to Scripps Atmospheric Scientist Ray Weiss the answer is no, even though it feels that way. He says it's not that the sun is stronger, but rather the ozone layer is thinner meaning more UV rays are coming through.
Short-wavelength UVC is the most damaging type of UV radiation. However, it is completely filtered by the atmosphere and does not reach the earth's surface.