User:ABTOP/draft2

ABTOP 11:42, 26 January 2007 (UTC)

Likely location for an insert of information "based" on the input below. Suggested point is at end of article under "Ultra-violet radiation"

author = "Wikipedia", title = "Radiation protection --- Wikipedia{,} The Free Encyclopedia", year = "2006", url = "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Radiation_protection&oldid=91343857", note = "[Online; accessed 21-December-2006]"

== COMMENT ==

Hazardous situation exists in countries with "Double Summertime" on the clocks. Most powerful, burning Sun is about 2:30 p.m. in Western Spain, not about 1:00 p.m. as in most areas with  normal "summertime" on the clocks! See also my /draft5 in which the Spanish "Comision Nacional" "En Hora" in Madrid should be considering the factors stated here, in deciding possible changes to Spanish Time Regimes in Winter and Summer.

My activity on this subject (see also other /draftsX)

A) Submitted a "report" to the Comision Nacional in Madrid describing the effects of the "Double Summertime" on the activities of the population.

B) E-MAIL and copy sent to CancerResearch.org.uk ( C-R UK ) as follows:

REFERENCE:

"Sun-Smart code" - Article appearing in Euro Weekly News, "Sense in the Sun" - Costa del Sol, Spain, July, 2005.

C-R UK gave necessary advice concerning protective action against harmful, strong solar radiation (welcome worldwide).

It was however, unfortunately, completely inadequate in one respect for Spain, Western France and the Canary Islands. A really rather obscure timesetting, described below, has existed for many decades in these areas - but the remarks below do NOT refer to Portugal (in a Time Zone setting more appropriate to true Solar Time).

For more than 100 years, Spain has set its clocktime in WINTER at the "Summertime" setting of one hour in advance of Solar Time (the Sunclock) in the region of Castellon, Valencia (situated on the Greenwich Meridian). This "permanent adjustment" therefore remains invisible to slight scrutiny, because no further upgrading into this level is ever required! (Unless you happen to arrive from the British Isles or Morocco). It does mean, however, that the C-R UK advice for sheltering/protecting from the sun in Winter during the period "11 am to 3 pm" can be heeded - (i.e., that location makes the C-R UK advice sound for WINTER).

It must be emphasised that, for nearly 90 years, Spain has adopted a further timesetting in Summer, extra to that in Winter, which is equivalent to "Double Summertime". Clocks around Valencia in the East of Spain are then 2 hours in advance of the Sun. (Incidentally, these days, this Time Zone setting is referred to as "Central European Summer Time" and is identical to (true Solar) Eastern European Time, the latter appearing mostly in wintertime in that Time Zone, where the meridian can be said to centre on Istanbul in Turkey). Descriptions of the Time Standard adopted in Spain can be obtained from the official timekeeping site in the Royal Institute and Marines Observatory, San Fernando, Province Cadiz, Spain.

A simple approach to the problem of understanding the Solar Radiation problem is to realise that the Sun´s burning power peaks at 2:30 pm (known as culmination of the Sun), thus making a statement such as "Take protective action between 12:00 pm and 5:00 pm" a valid warning. (That peak time should not be confused with the time of maximum heat in the day, since that is not the prime factor in causing skin burn).

Now, the Sun cannot appear over the extent of the Southern Coasts of Spain as being overhead at all places at the same time - it takes further time for the Sun to be overhead further west than Valencia!

During mid-Summer, although the average time of 2:25 pm should be quoted for the culmination time in Cadiz City, Costa de la Luz, it is possible for that time to be standing at 2:35 pm on the Spanish clocks in early Summer.

Similarly, the average time of 2:18 pm is correct for culmination in Malaga City on the Costa del Sol, but at that earlier date it, too, can be about 2:28 pm! It "takes the Sun", as we say, a full half an hour to reach the Portuguese border from the relevant time at Valencia.

The working, safe warning stated by the local health authorities in these vicinities is "Care is required from 12 pm to 5 pm!"

The previously expressed end of period statement of "3 pm" by C-R UK is a HAZARDOUS recommendation for the very strong solar radiation zones encountered in the above-cited areas.

(Note that the statements about the timesettings in Spain above obviously apply all-round the clock. Verification can easily be determined by examination of the local sunrise and sunset times, obtained above the Weather Maps in most local papers. Also, there is an accurately set up Sunclock in Cadiz ("Zona Franca"), which is a great help to understanding the situations described).

William E G Plumtree, M.Phil.(Lond),  15th July, 2005.