It is extremely easy to get the sun burning while you ski and snowboarding in the mountains, but have you ever wondered why?
Although it is true that you are slightly closer to the sun when you are high in the mountains, this is not the reason.
If you go up 1 mile (1.6 km), by the way the elevation From Denver to the summits of stations such as Vail or Copper Mountain, you are less than a million percent closer to the sun – it’s nothing. Since the orbit of the earth is an ellipse and not a circle, the planet is on 1.7% closer to the sun At the beginning of January compared to its annual average. This means that skiers move 3.3% more Sun in January than the average of the year – so not much more.
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Being 1 mile higher means that the atmosphere is thinner, so there are fewer particles to block the ultraviolet radiation that causes Sunburns.
But the great reason why your skin is more likely to burn has to do with all this fresh powder whose skiers and snowboarders are looking for, especially the perfect days and the blue sky. I am a snow scientist at the Colorado State University and a passionate skier. There are many ways that snow conditions affect the amount of your skin.
Fresh snow is very thoughtful
When you are in the snow, a large part of the solar radiation that your skin receives is reflected from the snow itself. The amount of radiation reflected is known as Albédo.
Fresh snow powder can have a Albedo of almost 95%Which means that it reflects almost all the radiation of the sun that strikes it. It is much more reflective than older snow, which becomes less brilliant. Fresh snow Has a lot of surfaces to reflect the sun’s rays. As the snow ages, the snow crystal becomes more round and there is Less surfaces to reflect light.
Fresh snow has a lot of planes to reflect the sun’s rays, more than older snow. Photo by Steven Fassnacht via the Colorado State University, CC by
Older snow is not as thoughtful as it melts and the grains become more round. Photo by Steven Fassnacht via the Colorado State University, CC by
Having a lot of fresh snow increases the albedo because the sun enters the powder, reflecting on the newly fallen crystals. Remember to start a car after 6 inches of fresh snow fell. A light always scrambles a path through the snowy windshield.
Having only one inch of powder on the crust is not as reflective as the fresh powder to the knees. Shallow is less reflective.
Many people want to ski on what is called Blue bird daysWhen there is a deep fresh powder under a light blue sky according to a large discharge. However, this provides the perfect conditions for burning from two directions: a lot of sunshine from above and high albedo reflecting on your face from below. The clouds block sunlight, with only about a third From the radiation of the sun crossing a completely covered sky.
What side of the mountain also has
Where you are on the mountain also makes a difference.
The slope and direction in the face of the slope, Appearance calledalso influences the intensity of the sun on a surface. Northern slopes In the northern hemisphere, get a less direct sun in winter, when the sun is further south in the sky, so they remain fresher.
Ionton Park, near Ouray, Colorado, during a clear blue day in February 2025. Photo by Steven Fassnacht via the Colorado State University, CC by
Many races in the ski resorts of the northern hemisphere face the north, so the snow melts more slowly. THE Snow also varies From the top of the mountain to the base. There is more high snow and the snow melts more slowly, so the albedo is higher at the top of the mountain than at the base.
How to reduce the risk of sunburn
To avoid sunburn, skiers and snowboarders must take into account all these characteristics.
Because solar radiation is reflected, people in the snow should put a sunscreen at the bottom of their noses, around their ears and on their mentions, as well as in the usual places.
Most sunscreens should also be replicated every two hoursEspecially if you are likely to sweat, wipe it or wear it by playing on the slopes. However, surveys show that Few people remember To do this. Resistant clothing with UV protection Covering as much skin as possible can also help.
These methods can help protect your skin from burns and Risks of cancer and premature aging who come with it. Snow lovers must remember that they are faced with higher sunshine risks on the slopes that they cannot be used to it.
This article is republished from The conversation Under a creative communs license. Read it original article.