UV levels soar in north

By CLAIRE TREVETT

It is getting fiercely hot, but beware of shedding too many clothes. UV levels are soaring as high as the temperatures, especially in the north.

Niwa atmospheric research scientist Dr Richard McKenzie said North Islanders were at most risk because the sun was nearly overhead.

"There is a common misconception that because of the ozone hole to the south of New Zealand UV intensities tend to be greater in the south. In fact, it is the opposite."

UV index forecast levels for Invercargill were about 10, compared with 13 or 14 at the top of the North Island - up to 40 per cent more intense.

Intensities were determined by the angle of the sun to the Earth. When it is nearly directly overhead the rays penetrate the atmosphere more easily.

The UV index ranges from 1 to 15: the higher the number, the greater the chance of getting sunburned.

A UV level of 1 means people would not get burned; at level 6 a fair-skinned person would start to redden within an hour of being in the sun; and at levels of 11 and above a fair-skinned person would get burned within about 20 minutes.

Levels 7 and below were found typically before 11am and levels 8 and above were from about lunchtime to early afternoon.

UV levels were also more intense at high altitudes.

UV levels in New Zealand had increased by about 10 per cent in the past 25 years.

"In 1980 it would have been about one UV index less, so it has increased significantly over that 25-year period. But for the last five or six years peak values have been relatively consistent, " Dr McKenzie said.

New Zealand has high levels for a country in its geographic location.

"Compared to mid-latitude countries in the Northern Hemisphere, New Zealand has extreme levels. In Europe a UV index greater than eight would be unusual."

SunSmart manager Wendy Billingsley said Niwa's UV index readings for Leigh, north of Auckland, showed that by 2.30pm levels were up to 14.3.

That would mean a fair-skinned person's skin would eventually peel after about 20 minutes sun exposure.

"That is horrendously high.

"In the United Kingdom when the UV levels get to 8 they start to panic."

Another problem is that temperatures are rarely intolerably hot.

"In New Zealand we are not driven inside by temperatures, but the UV levels are still horrendously high, " said Wendy Billingsley.

People needed to do more than wear correct clothing, put on hats and sunglasses, seek shade and slather on sunblock.

They should plan their days around the sun.

"Plan the barbecue for the evening, go for the run in the morning. In the middle of the day, follow the lead of the Latinos and have a siesta."

However, the warnings against sitting in the sun between 11am and 4pm seem to be largely ignored.

In Whangarei's Strand Mall, singlet-clad Matthew Courtney said he never used sunscreen. The only concession he made to the sun was a hat, and that was to shade his eyes.

"If you look pasty in summer you look a bit stupid. But mum tells me off sometime."

His friend Jake Fannin also admitted slip, slop, slap and wrapping were not a part of his summer.

"I'm lazy. It's such an arduous procedure."

But he had a plan.

"By the time I get melanoma, there will be some wicked cure for it - a cream will get rid of it."