Is the sun at the beach hotter?

AND YES, THE WATER DOES INTENSIFY THE SUN'S RAYS. And the reason you've been waiting to hear, confirmed — yes, the sun does reflect off of the ocean (or lake or swimming pool) and its rays are intensified as they reach your skin, making your more susceptible to a sunburn.



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Not only do the oceans cover more than 2/3 of the Earth's surface, they also absorb more sunlight and store more heat. Additionally the oceans retain heat longer. The Sun's rays also penetrate the oceans to a depth of many meters, but only heat up the top layer of the sand or soil.

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Sand can be over 100 degrees Fahrenheit when the outside temperature is only 75 degrees; indeed, when the ambient temperature is 90 degrees, the sand can be over 120 degrees, a passage from the study said. As a point of reference, temperatures in Tampa are forecasted to peak between 89 and 97 degrees from Aug.

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We all know sand gets hot, and if you've ever wondered why, it's because of sand's high density and its heat capacity. Sand has low specific heat, meaning it needs very little energy from the sun to heat up fast.

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Those in the water are most likely feeling cooler than those on the sand. This is due to the high specific heat capacity of water. In other words, the same amount of heat energy when applied to sand and water will increase the temperature of the sand more than it will increase the temperature of the water.

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Ocean Effect Near the beach is much cooler than it is just over a small set of mountains. The sea air keeps things warmer at night and cooler during the day. This is because of the atmospheric mixing and local winds that are created.

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Do you catch the sun better on the beach? AND YES, THE WATER DOES INTENSIFY THE SUN'S RAYS. Not only that, but the sun's rays reflect off of beautiful white sand, too. But this isn't the sole reason why you experience more sun and worse sunburns at the beach.

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Environmental factors like water and sand can also increase your likelihood of sun damage. These surfaces can reflect up to 80 percent of UV radiation, so the sun's rays are hitting you twice.

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