Thinking out loud.... UV Current mood: inquisitive

Some of the latest hum I have come across in my research involves UV. Ghost Hunter International broached the subject lightly in their first season. A few different groups touch on it- but nothing all that solid. I even ventured into a conversation with biology PhD about UV, honeybees, American Kestrels, and covalent bonds. Returning yet again, to rummage the internet for information.


First, what is UV?


I crawled the ’net in search of something I could understand and ended up at http://www.windows.ucar.edu/tour/link=/physical_science/magnetism/em_ultraviolet.html with information that made sense.

Which is below:
"Ultraviolet radiation lies between visible light and X-rays on the electromagnetic spectrum. UV "light" has wavelengths between about 380 and 10 nanometers. The wavelength of violet light is around 400 nanometers (or 4,000 Å). Ultraviolet radiation oscillates at rates between about 800 terahertz (THz or 1012 hertz) and 30,000 THz.

The ultraviolet spectrum is sometimes subdivided into the near UV (380 to 200 nanometer wavelengths) and extreme UV (200 to 10 nm wavelengths). Normal air is largely opaque to UV with wavelengths shorter than 200 nm (the extreme UV range); oxygen absorbs "light" in that part of the UV spectrum.

In terms of impact on the environment and human health (and choosing sunglasses!), it can be useful to subdivide the UV spectrum in a different way, into UV-A ("blacklight" or Long Wave UV with a 380 to 315 nm wavelength), UV-B (Medium Wave at 315 to 280 nm), and UV-C (the "germicidal" or Short Wave UV that ranges from 280 to 10 nm).

Earth’s atmosphere prevents most UV radiation from space from reaching the ground. UV-C is entirely screened out by stratospheric ozone at around 35 km altitude. Most UV-A does reach the surface, but UV-A does little genetic damage to tissues. UV-B is largely responsible for sunburn and skin cancer, though it is mostly absorbed by ozone before reaching the surface. Levels of UV-B radiation at the surface are especially sensitive to levels of ozone in the stratosphere."

That answered a few questions. What specific measurement does UV occupy? Which UV is responsible for the realignment of covalent bonds? Does all UV reach the surface?


Now after review a little basic UV science....


I can apply that information to specifications of FujiFilms 2 UVIR Digital SLRs. Fujifilm FinePix S3 Pro UVIR Digital SLR, now discontinued but available used (new $1799, I saw one used for $850), which allegedly functions from 350nm to 1000nm. Fuji doesn’t provide actual upper spec limits- they basically said the environment would impact the shoot each time. The other digital SLR UVIR camera, FujiFilm IS Pro- UVIR(body only $2600, kits start at $2700), functions from 380nm to 1000nm, the biggest difference in this later model is ability of 3200 ISO. Fuji does report some blurring with this model.

http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/proPhotoProductS3UVIR.jsp
http://www.fujifilmusa.com/JSP/fuji/epartners/proPhotoProductIS-Pro.jsp?NavBarId=item870325

I found one UV capable camcorder, UVcorder. It’s an interesting composite of parts. A Sony camera with a "Ultraviolet Camera Module" mounted atop that. It functions in the 300-400 nm range- the near-UV range or "blacklight" level from what I can gather. The bonus is realtime view on the 3.5"screen and the direct burn to media. The drawback, I think I finally scavenged a price of $4600 or so for it. I know, ouch!

http://www.uvcorder.com/products/


So, my next questions...


What spectrum of UV do entities manifest in?

If the UV "disperses" them, does that mean it’s rupturing some sort of bond similar to the covalent bond rearranging/ruptures by UV-B that occurs in human cells?

Does the blacklight "flashlight" which operates (depends on models) from the near UV of 400nm to more forensic geared 380-385nm have an impact?

BTW... want a blacklight flashlight... just google it, they’re everywhere. Used in forensics, scorpion hunting, money and ID validations, your local club- all different kinds of models, for all different kind of uses, at all kinds of prices.

I’ll take any input on the subject. It’s all about learning and growing.