UV Index Resources

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UV Index-related Tools Offered by the SunWise Program

How Can I Display UV Index Information on My Site?

The SunWise Program has developed an XML code that allows a Web developer versed in XML (Extensible Markup Language) to display UV Index and Alert forecasts on any Web site.  The information is searchable by ZIP Code and city, state, making it useful for any organization, either local or national. Users do not have to leave your site to see the forecast.

Visit http://iaspub.epa.gov/uvindexalert/services to see what services are offered. For the WSDL coding, visit http://iaspub.epa.gov/uvindexalert/services/UVIndexAlertPort?wsdl.

Problems? Contact us at sunwise@epa.gov.

What Does Email Have to Do with Skin Cancer Prevention?

In 2005, SunWise developed a system that sends subscribers an email containing the daily UV Index forecast for their city or ZIP Code called EnviroFlash UV. You can also subscribe to receive emails only on days when there is a UV Alert for your area. Emails go out in the early evening so you have plenty of time to prepare for your next day’s activities. If you planned on going on a picnic, and the UV Index is predicted to be a 10 for that Zip code, you’ll know that you will need to be extra careful to minimize sun damage to your skin and eyes. It’s also easy to subscribe and unsubscribe, so if you’ll be traveling for a few days, and you have access to your email, you can receive the local UV Index wherever you are, or you can just check the daily UV Index at our UV Index home page.

Sign up to receive UV Alerts by e-mail. More Information

Background and Other Resources

What is the UV Index? (PDF, 2 pp., 1.4 MB) - EPA fact sheet for the public describing the UV Index and the UV Alert.

A Guide to the UV Index (PDF, 8 pp., 1.2 MB) - Brochure developed by EPA for meteorologists, educators and public health officials on recommendations for reporting the UV Index.

UV Safety: The Global Solar UV Index (PDF, 1 p., 109 KB) - Poster displaying the UV index scale and action steps.

The Global Solar UV Index (PDF, 18 pp., 429 KB) - Recommendations for UV Index reporting from the World Health Organization, World Meteorological Organization, the United National Environment Programme and the International Commission on Non-ionizing Radiation Protection, adopted by EPA and the National Weather Service in May, 2004.

The World Health Organization's INTERSUN program has developed a graphics package, including a UVI logo, an international color code for different UVI values, and a choice of ready-made graphics for reporting the UVI and sun safety messages. The materials may be downloaded and used free of charge. An overview of the available graphics is available (PDF, 17pp., 460 KB). GIF images are available for downloading. To request a CD-ROM containing formats other than GIF, please write to uvinfo@who.int

National Weather Service UV Index information

World Health Organization UV Radiation Page

International UV Index Pages

INTERSUN - The global UV Project: A guide and compendium (PDF, 25 pp., 404 KB)

EPA's Ultraviolet Monitoring Program

American Meteorological Society Station Scientist Home