DCHP-3

UV index

DCHP-2 (Oct 2016)

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UV Index

n. — Outdoors, Science

a measure of ultraviolet radiation as it affects human skin (sunburn).

Type: 1. Origin — The UV index was developed by Environment Canada scientists in 1992. It predicts the intensity of ultraviolet rays every day at solar noon, and in Canada operates on a scale from one to (usually) eleven (see Environment Canada reference). In other countries, such as Australia, the index may go even higher.
The World Health Organization developed its own UV index in 1995, which created a global standard, to which Canada now adheres (see UNEP reference).

Quotations

1992
UV index introduced A new system of ultraviolet radiation warnings, introduced by Environment Canada yesterday, showed that Windsor, Ont., and Regina had the highest levels of the harmful radiation on the first day of the national index.
1992
ENVIRONMENT CANADA and Health and Welfare Canada launched a new UV information service earlier this year to help Canadians decide how much time they should spend in the sun. The UV (Ultraviolet) Advisory Program, the first of its kind in the world, makes available a daily UV index which estimates the expected UV strength under clear sky conditions of the sun rays in communities all over the country. The index is based on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the typical UV intensity on a clear summer day in the tropics.
2002
It's just 10 years old, but it already ranks alongside insulin, the telephone and Superman as a Canadian first that's making waves - and saving lives - around the world. The lowly UV index, that handy barometer of summertime ultraviolet intensity already in wide use in 26 different countries, is celebrating its 10th anniversary Monday as a genuine Canadian success story. "It is quite a source of pride," said Dr. Jim Kerr, head of ozone monitoring and research at Environment Canada and one of the pioneers of the UV index. "We do believe that overall, we have saved lives. That would always make one pretty proud of their achievement." The UV index was conceived in 1992 amid growing public awareness and fear about the depleted ozone layer and its waning ability to filter out the harsh radiation that's the proven, principal cause of skin cancer. It has since been embraced by the World Health Organization and adopted for use across the globe in countries where exposure to the sun is even more of a health risk than in Canada.
2013
Environment Canada is calling for the UV Index to hit 8 today, which is considered very high.
2016
Try to reduce your time in the sun between 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. - when the sun's rays are at their strongest - or any time of the day when the UV Index is three or more. In Canada the UV Index can be three or more from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. between April and September, even when it's cloudy.

References