DAVIS Vantage Pro Console - Manual (Page 53)

UV (Ultra Violet) Radiation
UV Index
Vantage Pro can also display UV Index, an intensity measurement first
defined by Environment Canada and since been adopted by the World
Meteorological Organization. UV Index assigns a number between 0 and 16
to the current UV intensity. The US EPA categorizes the Index values as
shown in 2. The lower the number, the lower the danger of sunburn. The
Index value published by the U.S. National Weather Service is a forecast of
Table A-2: E NVIRONMENT C ANADA S KIN T YPES AND R EACTION TO THE S UN
a
Skin Type Skin Color History of Tanning & Sunburning
I White Always burns easily, never tans
II White Always burns easily, tans minimally
III Light Brown Burns moderately, tans gradually
IV Moderate Brown Burns minimally, tans well
V Dark Brown Burns rarely, tans profusely
VI Black Never burns, deep pigmentation
a. Developed by T. B. Fitzpatrick of the Harvard Medical School. More about
the Fitzpatrick Skin Types is available in: Fitzpatrick TB. Editorial: the valid-
ity and practicality of sun-reactive skin types I through VI. Arch Dermatol
1988; 124:869-871
UV Dose that
Causes Sunburn
All Burn
Some burn
I
II
III
IV
V
VI
1
2
3
4
Skin T
ype (Environment Canada)
Skin Phototype (EP
A)
UV Dose (MEDs)
1 2 3 4 5 6
20 40 60 80 100 120 mJ/cm
2
UV Dose and Sunburn - Use this plot to estimate the MED dose leading to sunburn. A person with Type II (Envi-
ronment Canada) skin type might choose 0.75 MED as the maximum for the day; in contrast, a person with Type
V (Environment Canada) Skin Type might consider 2.5 MEDs a reasonable dose for the day. NOTE: the Van-
tage Pro assumes a Fitzpatrick (Environment Canada) Skin Type of II.