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Related Experiment Videos

Increasing the ultraviolet protection provided by shade structures.

D J Turnbull1, A V Parisi

  • 1Centre for Astronomy, Solar Radiation and Climate, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba 4350, Australia. turnbull@usq.edu.au

Journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology. B, Biology
|January 5, 2005
PubMed
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Shade structures reduce ultraviolet (UV) exposure. Side coverings like polycarbonate or vegetation significantly decrease scattered UV radiation, enhancing shade effectiveness and protecting users from harmful sun rays.

Area of Science:

  • Environmental Science
  • Public Health
  • Materials Science

Background:

  • Shade structures are crucial for reducing ultraviolet (UV) radiation exposure.
  • The effectiveness of shade structures is influenced by their design, particularly side openings.
  • Scattered UV radiation can still reach shaded areas, posing a risk.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To assess the impact of side-on protection on reducing scattered UV radiation under shade structures.
  • To quantify the effectiveness of polycarbonate sheeting and evergreen vegetation in decreasing UV exposure.
  • To evaluate how different solar zenith angles (SZA) affect UV reduction by vegetation.

Main Methods:

  • Utilized dosimetric measurements to quantify UV exposure.
  • Compared UV levels with and without polycarbonate sheeting on a scale model shade structure.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Assessed UV reduction provided by four shade structures with varying vegetation coverage and placement.
  • Measured UV exposure during summer and winter conditions.

    • Main Results:

    • Polycarbonate sheeting reduced UV exposure by up to 65% in summer and 57% in winter.
    • Vegetation decreased scattered UV by up to 87% at larger SZA (approx. 67 degrees).
    • Vegetation provided up to 30% UV reduction at smaller SZA (approx. 11 degrees).

    Conclusions:

    • Side-on protection significantly enhances the UV-blocking capabilities of shade structures.
    • Both polycarbonate sheeting and vegetation are effective in reducing scattered UV radiation.
    • Vegetation's effectiveness in UV reduction is dependent on its amount, placement, and the solar zenith angle.