In a shocking discovery, a team of researchers from the United States and Germany have reported that the highest level of UV radiation ever recorded on Earth was found in the Bolivian Andes. The team had set up a research station on the inactive Licancabur volcano, which stands at a height of 5,900 meters, to study environmental conditions similar to those on Mars. However, they were surprised to find that the UV radiation levels were off the charts, registering at 43.3 on the UV scale, compared to the previous record of 24 in Hawaii.
The researchers attributed the record-breaking levels of UV radiation to a combination of factors, including the time of day, the position of the sun, and the thin atmosphere at high altitudes. Additionally, a strong solar eruption in November of that year had weakened the ozone layer, allowing more UV radiation to penetrate the Earth’s atmosphere. The team included Nathalie Cabrol from the SETI Institute of NASA and Uwe Feistner from the Meteorological Observation Center in Lindenberg.
The implications of this discovery are significant, as the Bolivian Andes are home to inhabited areas, unlike the Antarctic and its ozone hole. Even a UV index of 4-5 poses a health risk for people who spend half an hour to 45 minutes in the sun, while a value of 11 is considered extremely dangerous. The findings of this study highlight the urgent need for measures to protect people from the harmful effects of UV radiation, especially in areas with high levels of exposure.
