When there is still sunlight at 5pm, and the temperature is just as hot as it is at 1pm, why is the UV index significantly lower in the evening?

Question

When there is still sunlight at 5pm, and the temperature is just as hot as it is at 1pm, why is the UV index significantly lower in the evening?

In: Planetary Science

Answer 1

The UV index has nothing to do with temperature. It has to do with how much UV light is kaking it from the sun to your skin, which can happen at any temperature and even through clouds.

In the evening, the Sun is lower in the sky, so the sun light needs to pass through more air to reach your skin, so more UV light gets blocked.