What impact does elevation and latitude have on the intensity of sunshine?
Higher elevations tend to receive more solar radiation than those at lower altitudes. According to the National Institutes of Health, for every 1,000 feet of additional altitude, ultraviolet (UV) radiation increases by about 4%. For instance, Denver, the Mile-High City, receives approximately 20% more UV radiation than a location at sea level at the same latitude. Solar intensity also tends to decrease with increasing latitude, or distance from the equator. The amount of UV received annually in Hawaii is approximately 10 times the amount received in Alaska. There’s plenty more about the UV Index on this USA TODAY resource page.
