Lab Notes: Why UV levels are so high in Australia

Australia's summer UV levels are high enough to cause sunburn in as little as 11 minutes.

Yet the summer sun in the Northern Hemisphere rarely feels that full on.

So why does our sunlight have that extra "bite"?

Spoiler: it's not the hole in the ozone layer.

You can binge more episodes of the Lab Notes podcast with science journalist and presenter Belinda Smith on the ABC Listen app (Australia). You'll find episodes on animal behaviour, human health, space exploration and so much more.

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Featuring: 

• David Whiteman, medical epidemiologist and Cancer Control group leader at QIMR Berghofer

More information:

Why is UV so high during Australia's summer? The ozone hole is not to blame

Cancer Council — UV Radiation

World Health Organization — Radiation: The ultraviolet (UV) index

CSIRO — The future of the ozone hole

This episode of Lab Notes was produced on the lands of the Wurundjeri and Menang Noongar people.