Dear Solar Guy,

        Over the weekend my family visited us and even though we had a
couple of overcast days we all got burned to a crisp !   I've often wondered
why it seems one gets sunburned so easily on such days  ?  

 I. M. Flushed, Burn, TX.

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Dear I.M.,

        I thought I knew the answer but just so I could give you the full
scoop, I decided to check this out with a buddy, Jake Howl.  There are
several factors.  The first but not necessarily the most important is that
most of us just don't feel we'll get much sun on an overcast day, and spend
more time out and with more of our bodies exposed.  However, overcast skies
are a result of excessive atmospheric moisture and water tends to absorb the
longer wavelengths and lets through the shorter little devils which do the
damage.  Also, most of the radiation that does get through is scattered and
therefore is coming at you from all angles - compared to mainly downward
during midday on clear days.  And one tends not to cover up or use a sun
screen lotion on the areas not directly exposed to the sun.  One should use
a good sun block - preferably a rating of 15 or better and the fairer your
skin the higher.

        Therefore, just recognize that the sun will gets to parts of you
even easier on overcast days and use a good sun block lotion when you're out
on either clear or overcast days.  The long and short of it is that we solar
proponents need to recognize that, while almost everything is good about the
sun, we still need to protect ourselves from it.  But remember, it is still
safer than nuclear. 

 The Solar Guy