Home
Search:
1146 feeds
357 categories
0 articles (<24 hours)
36 registered users

Use the Mobile version
Mobile

Follow our Twitter feed

View our Linkpartners
Links

Username:
Password:

Register | Retrieve

Culture


RSS Feeds25 years ago, Toronto became the centre of the universe . . . for the UV index
(The Star Food)

 
 

27 may 2017 16:25:33

 
25 years ago, Toronto became the centre of the universe . . . for the UV index
(The Star Food)
 


The front page of the Toronto Star on May 27, 1992, was deeply of the decade. Premiere Bob Rae’s face scowled above the fold, and the Blue Jays beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5 to 4, adding to their scorching, World-Series calibre record.A short story announced a change to the weather report. Environment Canada would begin publishing forecasts of the intensity of ultraviolet radiation from the sun.It was information they hoped Canadians would use to avoid sunburns and the attendant risk of skin cancer.Today is the 25th birthday of the UV index. The scale was invented by three Toronto-based Environment Canada scientists.It has since been adopted around the world.When forecasters issue a UV index of six in Brussels or 22 in the Andes, they are comparing local ultraviolet radiation to a sunny summer day at Dufferin and Steeles.It confirms that Toronto is, in fact, the centre of the universe — at least when it comes to calibrating sunburn risk.The story of the UV index is one of Canadian leadership in atmospheric science, technology transfer and public communication.“In a sense, we managed to put a hat on everybody in the world,” says Tom McElroy, one of the UV index’s inventors. McElroy is now a professor at York University’s Department of Earth and Space Science and Engineering.The story shows, some say, how far Canada has shifted from its world-leading position in this field; measuring ultraviolet radiation is inextricably linked to measuring variations in the ozone layer.But the program at Environment Canada was diminished by the Stephen Harper government.“I think it’s going to take a lot of effort to get the place back on its feet again,” says Thomas Duck, a professor in physics and atmospheric science at Dalhousie University, about Environment Canada and its ozone research.“We’ve got a lot to be proud of, and I think it should be a continuing source of pride.”Scientists had been me ...


 
59 viewsCategory: Culture > Gastronomy
 
Will Iraqi special forces get away with murder?
(The Star Food)
The death of Jordan Manners tore apart his school. How C.W. Jefferys was resurrected
(The Star Food)
 
 
blog comments powered by Disqus


Copyright © 2008 - 2024 Indigonet Services B.V.. Contact: Tim Hulsen. Read here our privacy notice.
Other websites of Indigonet Services B.V.: Nieuws Vacatures Science Tweets Nachrichten