Story: Atmosphere

Ultraviolet radiation

Ultraviolet radiation

This image of the sun was taken with a filter which shows radiation only in the extreme ultraviolet (UV) range of the spectrum, shown as blue. UV radiation causes sunburn and damages skin tissue, which can lead to melanoma – a cancer of the skin. UV light is not visible to the naked eye, but under the midday summer sun you can feel it burning your skin.

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The Solar and Heliospheric Observatory - SOHO (ESA & NASA)

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How to cite this page:

Bill Allan, Katja Riedel, Richard McKenzie, Sylvia Nichol and Tom Clarkson, 'Atmosphere - Ozone and ultraviolet radiation', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/6152/ultraviolet-radiation (accessed 19 April 2024)

Story by Bill Allan, Katja Riedel, Richard McKenzie, Sylvia Nichol and Tom Clarkson, published 12 Jun 2006