Introduction to UV Lighting

Many people have become very inquisitive regarding Ultraviolet Lighting. There is a lot of information to sift through to truly grasp the entire meaning of what UV is and how it relates to our reptiles and their health. I am presenting a very basic article on UV but it will give you an idea on how to make more of an educated purchase on your next UVB light as well as the remaining full spectrum lighting needs for your reptile too.

What is Ultraviolet Light?

To better answer that question I need to break down the spectrum into its parts, to demonstrate how it can be measured. Light is energy in the form of waves or particles that can be measured by specific meters and spectrometers.

This spectrum includes both the visible and invisible UV light, which depends on the length of the wave being presented which is measured in nanometers. The particular wavelength tells you the type of light, whether it is UV light or visible light, and if it is visible light and exactly what color it is.

The intensity or amount of light both the visible and invisible light are measured in microwatts per square meter (uW/cm2). Visible light can be measured in Lux or Lumens which indicates the brightness, or also in Kelvins which measures the warm or the color temperature of the light.