Which UV light hits earth's surface at the greatest intensity?

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Expert Solution

The Sun is considered to produces a constant amount of energy. At the surface of the Sun the intensity of the solar radiation is about 6.33×107 W/m2 (note that this is a power, in watts, per unit area in meters).

UV radiation at different wavelengths differs in its effects, and we have to live with the harmful effects as well as the helpful ones. Radiation at the longer UV wavelengths of 320-400 nm, called UV-A, plays a helpful and essential role in formation of Vitamin D by the skin, and plays a harmful role in that it causes sunburn on human skin and cataracts in our eyes. The incoming radiation at shorter wavelengths, 290-320 nm, falls within the UV-B part of the electromagnetic spectrum. (UV-B includes light with wavelengths down to 280 nm, but little to no radiation below 290 nm reaches the Earth’s surface). UV-B causes damage at the molecular level to the fundamental building block of life

queen_honey_blossom answered 1 year ago

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