Sun Safety Tip: The Higher the Altitude, the Higher the UV
Going hiking or skiing? Slather on the sunscreen. The higher your altitude, the higher your UV radiation exposure. More specifically, with every 1000-foot increase in height, UV levels increase by about 4% (per the NIH). People who live at a higher elevation are exposed to about 25% more UV radiation than those who live at sea level.
Some quick background...UV index measures the intensity of the sun's ultraviolet radiation. Reading are affected by the thickness of the ozone layer, latitude, season, cloud cover & elevation. The higher the elevation, the thinner the atmosphere and less able to absorb UV radiation.
What to do
