Sun strike!

[HercFeend]

A question for anyone with a degree of local geographic knowledge and the like......

I have noticed 'sun strike' to be markedly different, in particular stronger / more intense in New Zealand, this is in contrast to the UK, for instance, where it does not appear to be so pronounced. Why is this?

Immediate thoughts turn to sun angle (NZ being higher) and the hole in the Ozone etc.......

Does anyone have a definitive answer for this ‘phenomenon’?

[Charl]

I haven't heard a good story explaining this, but NZ and Queensland sun is ferocious.
Some say the air is clearer, and maybe there is less dust and pollution in the atmosphere.
Tanning is not really an option, it's more like roasting.
Sufficient to know you should wear a hat and plenty of sunblock.

[Naki]

Yeah I would say its partly to do with what you said plus dare I say it, less pollution.

[Adamski]

QUOTE (HercFeend @ Nov 24 2008, 09:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A question for anyone with a degree of local geographic knowledge and the like......

I have noticed 'sun strike' to be markedly different, in particular stronger / more intense in New Zealand, this is in contrast to the UK, for instance, where it does not appear to be so pronounced. Why is this?

Immediate thoughts turn to sun angle (NZ being higher) and the hole in the Ozone etc.......

Does anyone have a definitive answer for this ‘phenomenon’?

It *IS* the hole in the Ozone layer, I'm afraid.

I have a friend in Noosa that I've been visiting over the years. Whilst hot, it's always been fairly safe - until the last time where I definitely *burned* rather than tanned.

Same deal here in AKL. It used to be OK - definitely for this time of the year ... but I spent an afternoon in the sun on Saturday (at a mass Ukulele concert!!) and got quite uncomfortably pink/raw.

NOT GOOD :-(

[HercFeend]

It was my understanding though that, in essence, the ozone or lack of it is related to the amount of UV that makes it to the earth’s surface (hence the sun burn and increase in melanoma being experienced) but is not directly responsible for the ‘brightness’ of the sun. Maybe they’re the same thing – brightness is proportionally linked to UV and vice versa.