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<title>SunScope FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions</title>
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{"@type":"Question","name":"What is UTCI and why is it more accurate than feels-like temperature?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"UTCI stands for Universal Thermal Climate Index. Unlike a standard feels-like temperature which usually only adjusts for wind chill or humidity on their own, UTCI uses a full physiological model of the human body. It combines four factors at once: air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and the heat from solar radiation hitting your skin. On a sunny day the sun can make you feel 10-15 degrees warmer than the air temperature alone, and most weather apps ignore this entirely. UTCI is a peer-reviewed scientific standard used in public health systems across Europe."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is SunSoak and how is it different from UTCI?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunSoak is SunScope's signature felt-temperature index. It starts from UTCI - the biometeorological standard - and adds three extra layers: a rain and snow penalty reflecting the chill of wet clothing (heavy rain plus strong wind can drop felt temperature by 7-8 degrees); a Solar Model adjusting the solar load for where you actually are, chosen from eight settings (grass/open field, town/city, beach/lakeside, river/riverbank, forest/woodland, open water, alpine altitude, desert/arid); and mean radiant temperature from all surrounding surfaces. On a dry day in open conditions SunSoak and UTCI are very similar. In rain, shade, altitude, or at the coast they can differ significantly."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the difference between UTCI and heat index?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Heat index is a simple table-based formula that adjusts air temperature for humidity only - it ignores wind and solar radiation entirely. UTCI is a full physiological model accounting for air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and mean radiant temperature from solar radiation. In sunny or windy conditions the two values can differ by 10-20 degrees. UTCI is the standard used in European heat-health warning systems."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does SunScope sometimes show a much higher temperature than my regular weather app?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On clear sunny days, direct solar radiation heats your skin significantly - sometimes adding 10 degrees or more to what the air temperature alone would suggest. SunScope calculates mean radiant temperature from real shortwave radiation forecast data. Standard weather apps ignore solar radiation entirely and only report air temperature or basic wind chill."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Why does SunScope sometimes show a lower temperature than my regular weather app?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Wind chill and precipitation both reduce felt temperature. If it is raining or blustery, the SunSoak value will be noticeably lower than the thermometer reading. A 15 degree day with heavy rain and a strong wind can feel closer to 8 or 9 degrees. SunScope captures this; most apps do not."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I read the SunScope table?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Each row is one hour of the day. The most important column is SunSoak - the felt temperature accounting for all weather factors combined. Colour coding tells you comfort at a glance: blue means cold, green means comfortable, yellow and orange mean warm or hot, red means dangerous heat stress. Switch between profiles using the popup picker above the table - Basic, Home, Vehicle, Pets, then Places, Activities and Work tabs for location, activity, and occupation-specific views. Hover any column header for a plain-language description of what it shows."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What do the different profiles and dropdowns show?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Each profile is a curated set of columns. Basic shows core weather: felt temperature, sky, wind, rain. Home adds indoor building temperature. Vehicle adds car cabin temperature, soil moisture, and visibility. Pets adds fur temperature, paw temperature, and pet-specific shade and home thresholds. The Places dropdown offers Urban, Park/Picnic, Forest/Woodland, Beach, Events, and Airport/Travel (free) plus Festival (Extra). The Activities dropdown offers Dog Walking, Running, and Cycling (free) plus Hiking, Fishing, Sailing, Winter Sports, Photography, and Naturist (Extra). The Work dropdown offers Farming (free) plus Construction, Market Trading, Window Cleaning, Office, and Driver/Trucker (Extra). Temps, Show All, and Custom are Extra-only."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I set or change my location?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Use the search bar at the top of the forecast page. Type any city, town, village, or postcode and select from the dropdown results. SunScope works for locations worldwide. Your last searched location is remembered automatically the next time you visit."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What UV level is dangerous?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"WHO UV index scale: 1-2 Low, no protection needed for short exposure. 3-5 Moderate, wear sunscreen and a hat for over 30 minutes outside. 6-7 High, seek shade during midday, apply SPF 30+. 8-10 Very High, minimise direct sun 11am-3pm. 11+ Extreme, avoid outdoor exposure during peak hours. In the UK, UV 6+ is common on clear summer days May-August."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How long until I get sunburn today?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"It depends on the UV index and your skin type. SunScope shows a Burn time column estimating minutes to the sunburn threshold (one Minimal Erythemal Dose). At UV 8+, fair skin types I and II can burn in under 10 minutes. Medium skin types have around 20-25 minutes. Darker skin has more natural protection but is not immune. Burn time assumes no sunscreen and no shade."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the difference between UV-A and UV-B?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"UV-A has a longer wavelength, penetrates deeper into skin, is present throughout all daylight hours, passes through glass, and is the primary cause of long-term skin ageing. UV-B causes sunburn directly and drives vitamin D production. UV-B is strongest when the sun is high and falls sharply in morning and evening. SunScope shows both indices separately."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How does shade affect how hot I feel?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On a sunny day shade can reduce felt temperature by 8-12 degrees because it removes the direct solar radiation load. However shade does not reduce air temperature or humidity, so on very humid days you will still feel uncomfortable in shade. SunScope shows UTCI for open sun exposure, so felt temperature in shade will be noticeably lower than the figure shown."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How hot does a car get in the sun?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"On a mild 20 degree day with strong sunshine, the inside of a sealed car can reach 40-45 degrees within 20 minutes and over 50 degrees within an hour. On a hot 30 degree day it can hit 60 degrees. The glass acts like a greenhouse. SunScope calculates cabin temperature hour by hour. Above 35 degrees is dangerous for a child or pet. Above 45 degrees can be fatal within minutes."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Does opening car windows reduce the temperature inside?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes, significantly. Open windows allow convective airflow to flush hot cabin air out, reducing heat build-up by roughly 60-80% compared to a sealed vehicle. SunScope has a Ventilation toggle in the Vehicle column that shows the estimated cabin temperature with windows open alongside the sealed figure."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Is it safe to leave a dog in a parked car?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"No. On any warm or sunny day a sealed vehicle heats up rapidly to temperatures that can cause heatstroke and death in animals within minutes. Dogs are at risk at cabin temperatures above 32 degrees. SunScope Vehicle column shows hourly cabin temperature. Amber (above 35 degrees) or red (above 45 degrees) means not safe for a dog, cat, or young child, even for a few minutes."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the Pets profile show and how does it help keep my pet safe?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The free Pets profile is built for checking outdoor conditions for a cat or dog. Fur Temp estimates coat surface temperature in direct sun, adjustable for your pet's fur colour since darker coats absorb more heat. Paw Temp estimates pavement contact temperature colour-coded by burn risk - green below 40 degrees, amber 40-52 degrees, red above 52 degrees - the same 7-second hand test applies. Pet Shade and Pet Home reuse the shade and indoor models but with lower, pet-specific alert thresholds, since small pets have far less capacity to dump heat than a person."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Is it safe to run outside today?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Check three columns. UTCI: below 26 degrees is comfortable for running, 26-32 is warm so hydrate and slow your pace, above 32 is heat stress so run early morning or evening instead. AQI: if 4 or 5, outdoor exercise increases pollutant absorption - consider moving indoors. UV: if 6+ during midday, apply sunscreen. Early morning usually offers comfortable temperature, low UV, and good air quality all at once."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How do I keep my house cool in a heatwave without air conditioning?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Keep curtains and blinds closed during the day to block solar gain, then open windows once outdoor air drops below indoor temperature - usually in the evening or early morning. SunScope Home profile lets you select your building type so the model reflects how your building heats up. The Managed toggle shows the effect of following this advice hour by hour."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Why is my house hotter in the evening than during the day?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Building materials absorb heat slowly and release it gradually - a property called thermal mass. A stone cottage or Victorian terrace has very high thermal mass and stays warm well into the night. A timber frame new build or conservatory responds almost immediately to outdoor changes. SunScope building type selector matches the model to your home."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is thermal mass and why does it matter?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb, store, and slowly release heat. Stone, brick, and concrete have high thermal mass - they warm slowly but also cool slowly. Timber and glass have low thermal mass and respond quickly. This is why a stone cottage stays cool during the day but can feel stuffy at midnight. SunScope Home profile uses your building type to estimate indoor temperature throughout the day."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How hot does pavement or concrete get in summer?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Exposed concrete and tarmac can be 15-25 degrees hotter than the surrounding air on a sunny day. They have no evaporative cooling and absorb a large fraction of solar radiation, then radiate it back upward. This is a hazard for dogs on hot pavements, barefoot children, and cyclists. The rule of thumb: if you cannot hold your hand on the surface for 7 seconds, it is too hot for dog paw pads. SunScope Concrete surface column estimates pavement temperature hour by hour."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does an air quality index of 3 mean?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunScope uses the European Air Quality Index running from 1 (Very Good) to 5 (Very Poor). AQI 3 means Moderate - fine for most healthy people. Those with asthma, heart conditions, or respiratory illness may notice slight effects. AQI 4 (Poor): everyone should reduce prolonged outdoor exercise. AQI 5 (Very Poor): even healthy people should limit time outside. The AQI combines PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the difference between PM2.5 and PM10?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"PM stands for particulate matter. PM10 covers particles up to 10 micrometres including dust, pollen, and mould spores. PM2.5 covers finer particles up to 2.5 micrometres from vehicle exhausts and wood burning. PM2.5 is more dangerous because particles penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. Both are included in the AQI shown in SunScope."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the pollen count mean for hay fever sufferers?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunScope shows pollen in grains per cubic metre. Below 10 is Low - most people notice nothing. 10-30 is Moderate - mild symptoms for sensitive sufferers. 30-80 is High - most hay fever sufferers will have symptoms. Above 80 is Very High - symptoms likely even with antihistamines. Select your specific pollen type: grass, birch, alder, mugwort, olive, ragweed, or total. In the UK grass peaks June-August; birch and alder peak in spring. Pollen is often lower after rain and in the evenings."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does visibility mean in the forecast?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Visibility is horizontal visibility in kilometres. Below 1 km is dense fog, dangerous for driving. 1-4 km is fog or thick mist. 4-10 km is hazy but manageable. Above 10 km is good visibility. Visibility drops in fog, heavy rain, snow, dust, and high-pollution events. It is sourced from the Copernicus CAMS forecast via Open-Meteo."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does dew point mean and why does it matter?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated and water starts to condense. When air temperature falls to the dew point, fog forms and surfaces become wet with dew or frost. For organic growers this matters for spray timing - applying foliar feeds or treatments near the dew point risks poor uptake. For caravanners a high dew point means wet awnings and condensation in the morning. A dew point above 18 degrees feels oppressively humid even if air temperature is not extreme."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the difference between a ground frost and an air frost?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"An air frost is when the official air temperature 1.2 metres above the ground falls below 0 degrees. A ground frost is when the temperature at the surface falls below 0 degrees - which can happen even when air temperature is 2 or 3 degrees, because the ground radiates heat upward on clear still nights and chills faster than the air. Ground frosts damage tender plants, ice windscreens, and make paths slippery. SunScope flags frost events in the weather event banners above the table."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"When is it safe to spray crops or apply foliar feeds?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Safe spraying of organic foliar feeds, compost teas, or permitted copper and sulphur treatments needs wind below 3 metres per second to prevent drift onto neighbouring land, watercourses, or buffer zones, cooler temperatures to reduce evaporation and leaf scorch, no rain forecast for several hours so the product is not washed off, and a temperature comfortably above the dew point. Spraying in the evening also protects foraging bees and beneficial insects. SunScope Farming profile shows wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and precipitation all in one view."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What soil temperature do seeds need to germinate?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Most vegetable seeds need soil above 7-10 degrees. Warm-season crops like courgettes and beans need 12-15 degrees or more. Cool-season crops like lettuce can germinate at 4-5 degrees. Sowing too early into cold soil leads to seeds rotting. SunScope shows surface soil temperature and 6 cm depth temperature - the root zone where germination happens. The 6 cm figure lags the surface by several hours and reflects what seeds are actually experiencing."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How can I tell if the ground is too wet for a motorhome or caravan?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunScope soil moisture shows volumetric water content in cubic metres per cubic metre. Above 0.4 is saturated and a heavy vehicle will likely sink. 0.3-0.4 is borderline. Below 0.3 is usually firm enough. Below 0.2 is dry and solid. The Vehicle profile includes soil moisture by default for motorhome and caravan users checking pitch suitability before arrival."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Does SunScope show air quality and pollen forecasts?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. Three air environment columns sit after Cloud cover in the table: Visibility (horizontal visibility in km), AQI (European Air Quality Index combining PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide), and Pollen (grains per cubic metre with a type picker for grass, birch, alder, mugwort, olive, ragweed, or total). All three are sourced from Copernicus CAMS via Open-Meteo. Toggle them using the column buttons above the table."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What does the weather icon on each day tab mean?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Each day tab shows a weather icon for dominant daytime sky conditions - a sun disc for clear days, cloud variants for cloudy days, or a precipitation icon for rainy or snowy days. Below the icon are the day high and low SunSoak felt temperatures in warm and cool colours. The icon is derived from actual solar elevation and cloud data, not a fixed set of generic symbols."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What are the weather event banners above the forecast table?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"When notable conditions are forecast - ground frost, strong wind warning, fog, or a heat event - a coloured banner appears above the table. Tapping or clicking the event icon opens a popup with more detail about what the condition means and what to watch out for. Multiple events can appear at once."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What is the Today at a Glance panel and what does vs seasonal average mean?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Today at a Glance is a summary panel above the table that pulls together the 4-5 numbers that matter most for the day and your active profile, so you don't have to scan the full hourly table. It also shows a vs seasonal average comparison on every profile: the day's forecast high and 24-hour mean against the 1991-2020 climate normal for that date and location, sourced from Open-Meteo's historical archive. A reading of plus 5 degrees or more against the normal high is flagged - an honest anomaly check on top of the raw forecast."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Can I see how the sky and weather will look later today?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes. By default the sky scope shows the current moment, with sun position, sky colour, glow, cloud, rain, snow and haze all calculated from real forecast data. You can also travel through the day: press the Day cycle play button to run a 24-hour time-lapse that animates the sky and weather through the next day in about a minute and a half, or drag the thumb along the timeline bar beneath the scope to scrub to any instant. The timeline shows the day's changing sky colours with sunrise and sunset markers at their real times."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How far ahead does the forecast go?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The free tier shows 3 days of hourly data. SunScope Extra unlocks 14 days. The forecast auto-refreshes every 5 minutes while the page is open so the current hour always reflects the latest data from Open-Meteo. No manual reload needed."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"How accurate is SunScope?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunScope uses Open-Meteo data from ECMWF and national meteorological services - the same models used by professional forecasters. The UTCI calculation follows the peer-reviewed Bröde 2012 polynomial exactly. Derived columns such as vehicle temperature, indoor temperature, and concrete surface are physics-based estimates that vary based on local factors like building construction, shading, and surface colour. Treat them as well-informed estimates rather than precise measurements."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Is SunScope free?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"The core forecast is free for any location worldwide with no account required. Free includes Basic, Home, Vehicle, Pets, the Places variants Urban, Park/Picnic, Forest/Woodland, Beach, Events, and Airport/Travel, and the free specialist variants Dog Walking, Running, Cycling (Activities) and Farming (Work). SunScope Extra at 2 pounds per month unlocks 14-day forecasts, the specialist Places variant Festival, specialist Activities variants (Hiking, Fishing, Sailing, Winter Sports, Photography, Naturist), the Work variants (Construction, Market Trading, Window Cleaning, Office, Driver/Trucker), the Temps comparison profile, Show All, and Custom column control."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Is there a SunScope mobile app?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"SunScope is a web app that works on any device through your browser - no installation needed. On iPhone: open in Safari, tap Share, then Add to Home Screen. On Android: open in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then Add to Home Screen. It appears as an icon on your phone just like a regular app and opens directly to the forecast."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"What data sources does SunScope use?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Forecast data comes from Open-Meteo, which aggregates ECMWF, GFS, and national meteorological service models. UTCI follows the Bröde et al. 2012 polynomial. Air quality, visibility, and pollen data come from the Copernicus CAMS forecast via the Open-Meteo Air Quality API. Geolocation search uses the Open-Meteo geocoding API."}},
{"@type":"Question","name":"Does SunScope work outside the UK?","acceptedAnswer":{"@type":"Answer","text":"Yes - SunScope works for any location worldwide. Search for any city, town, or village using the search bar. The indoor temperature model offers eight building types so you can match your building wherever you are. All other columns - UTCI, vehicle, UV, soil, concrete - are fully location-agnostic."}}
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<h1>Frequently Asked Questions</h1>
<p class="tagline">See the sun the way your skin does.</p>
<h2>Understanding SunScope</h2>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">What is UTCI and why is it more accurate than feels-like temperature?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">UTCI stands for Universal Thermal Climate Index. Unlike a standard feels-like temperature - which usually only adjusts for wind chill or humidity on their own - UTCI uses a full physiological model of the human body. It combines four factors at once: air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and the heat from solar radiation hitting your skin directly.<br><br>That last one is huge. On a sunny day the sun can make you feel 10-15 degrees warmer than the air temperature alone, and most weather apps ignore this entirely. UTCI is a peer-reviewed scientific standard used in public health systems and heat-health warning services across Europe. SunScope uses it because it is the most honest number available for describing how weather actually feels on your body.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">What is SunSoak and how is it different from UTCI?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">UTCI is the scientific foundation — a peer-reviewed biometeorological standard that combines air temperature, humidity, wind, and solar radiation. But it has gaps. It assumes you are standing in open conditions with no precipitation. <strong>SunSoak</strong> is SunScope's extended index that fills those gaps with three extra layers.<br><br>First, a <strong>rain and snow penalty</strong>: the extra chill of wet clothing and skin is not in UTCI. Light drizzle drops felt temperature by 1-2 degrees; heavy rain combined with strong wind can push it down 7-8 degrees. Second, a <strong>Solar Model</strong>: SunSoak adjusts the solar and thermal load for where you actually are — from grass/open field through forest canopy, alpine altitude, beach or lakeside glare, shaded riverbank, open water, and desert ground heat (eight settings in all). Switch it in the SunSoak column dropdown to match your surroundings. Third, <strong>full mean radiant temperature</strong> from all surrounding surfaces, not just the direct sun beam.<br><br>On a dry day in the open, SunSoak and UTCI will be close. In rain, in a forest, at altitude, or by the sea they can differ significantly — which is exactly what your body experiences.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">What is the difference between UTCI and heat index?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Heat index is a simple table-based formula that adjusts air temperature for humidity only. It was designed for shade conditions and ignores wind and solar radiation entirely. UTCI is a full physiological model accounting for air temperature, humidity, wind speed, and mean radiant temperature from solar radiation and surrounding surfaces.<br><br>In sunny or windy conditions the two values can differ by 10-20 degrees. UTCI is the standard used in European heat-health warning systems and urban heat research. Heat index is a rough guide; UTCI is what your body actually experiences.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">Why does SunScope sometimes show a much higher temperature than my regular weather app?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">On clear sunny days, direct solar radiation heats your skin significantly - sometimes adding 10 degrees or more to what the air temperature alone would suggest. SunScope calculates mean radiant temperature from real shortwave radiation forecast data, capturing this solar heat load. Standard weather apps report air temperature or a basic wind-chill formula and ignore solar radiation entirely.<br><br>On a still, cloudless 18 degree day in June, SunScope might show a felt temperature of 28 degrees. That is not an error - that is what your skin actually experiences standing in direct sun.</p>
</details>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">Why does SunScope sometimes show a lower temperature than my regular weather app?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Wind chill and precipitation both reduce felt temperature. If it is raining or blustery, the SunSoak value will be noticeably lower than the thermometer reading - which is exactly what your body experiences. A 15 degree day with heavy rain and a strong wind can feel closer to 8 or 9 degrees in real terms. Most apps report only the air temperature; SunSoak captures the full picture.</p>
</details>
<h2>Reading the Forecast</h2>
<details class="faq-block">
<summary class="faq-q">How do I read the SunScope table?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Each row in the table is one hour of the day, with the time shown in the first column. The most important column is <strong>SunSoak</strong> - SunScope's felt-temperature index combining air temperature, humidity, wind, solar radiation, rain, and your environment into a single honest number.<br><br>Colour coding tells you how comfortable each hour will be at a glance: blue shades mean cold, green means comfortable, yellow and orange mean warm or hot, and red means dangerous heat stress. Use the SunSoak column dropdown to set your Solar Model - Grass/Open Field, Forest, Alpine, Beach, River, Open Water, or Desert - and the values will adjust accordingly. Other columns show vehicle cabin temperature, indoor building temperature, pet fur and paw temperature, UV index, burn time, concrete surface temperature, soil data, air quality, and pollen. Switch between profiles using the popup picker above the table - Basic, Home, Vehicle, Pets, then the <strong>Places</strong>, <strong>Activities</strong>, and <strong>Work</strong> tabs for location, activity, and occupation-specific views. Hover any column header for a plain-language description of what it shows.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What do the different profiles and dropdowns show?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Each profile is a curated set of columns relevant to a different activity or situation.<br><br><strong>Basic</strong> shows the core weather picture: felt temperature, sky conditions, wind, and precipitation.<br><strong>Home</strong> adds indoor building temperature for your selected building type, humidity, and dew point.<br><strong>Vehicle</strong> adds car, truck, or motorhome cabin temperature (with a road-speed selector), soil moisture for pitch assessment, and visibility.<br><strong>Pets</strong> adds fur surface temperature (set your pet's fur colour), paw/pavement burn-risk temperature, and pet-specific shade and home alert thresholds.<br><br>The <strong>Places</strong> dropdown offers Urban, Park/Picnic, Forest/Woodland, Beach, Events, and Airport/Travel (all free), plus Festival (Extra). The <strong>Activities</strong> dropdown includes Dog Walking, Running, and Cycling (free), plus Hiking, Fishing, Sailing, Winter Sports, Photography, and Naturist (Extra). The <strong>Work</strong> dropdown covers outdoor occupations: Farming (free), plus Construction, Market Trading, Window Cleaning, Office, and Driver/Trucker (Extra).<br><br>SunScope Extra also unlocks Temps (a side-by-side temperature comparison), Show All, and Custom, which lets you build a fully custom column layout. The profile and settings picker itself lives in a popup off the nav bar with Common/Places/Activities/Work tabs and inline config selectors.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does the weather icon and temperature on each day tab mean?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Each day tab in the date strip shows a small weather icon representing the dominant daytime sky conditions - a sun disc for clear days, cloud variants for cloudy days, or a precipitation icon for rainy or snowy days. Below the icon are the day high and low <strong>SunSoak</strong> felt temperatures shown in warm and cool colours.<br><br>The icon is derived from actual daytime solar elevation and cloud data, so it reflects the real character of the day rather than a generic symbol picked from a fixed set.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What are the weather event banners above the forecast table?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">When notable weather conditions are forecast - such as a ground frost, strong wind warning, fog, or a heat event - a coloured banner with a brief alert appears above the table. Tapping or clicking the event icon opens a popup with more detail about what the condition means and what to watch out for. Multiple events can appear at once if conditions warrant it.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What is the Today at a Glance panel and what does "vs seasonal average" mean?</summary>
<p class="faq-a"><strong>Today at a Glance</strong> is a summary panel above the table that pulls together the 4-5 numbers that matter most for the day and your active profile - peak heat window, rain risk, wind, UV, and similar - so you don't have to scan the full hourly table to get the headline picture. Content adapts to what you're doing: the Farming profile adds sow and harvest advice from a seasonal crop calendar, for example.<br><br>Every profile also shows a <strong>vs seasonal average</strong> comparison: the day's forecast high and 24-hour mean set against the 1991-2020 climate normal for that date and location, calculated from Open-Meteo's historical archive. A gap of 5 degrees or more against the normal high is flagged - an honest anomaly check on top of the raw forecast numbers.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Can I see how the sky and weather will look later today?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Yes. By default the sky scope shows the current moment - the sun position, sky colour, glow intensity, cloud, rain, snow, and haze are all calculated from real forecast data for right now. But you can also travel through the day.<br><br>Press the <strong>Day cycle</strong> play button (▶) on the scope to run a 24-hour time-lapse: SunScope animates the sky and weather smoothly through the next day in about a minute and a half, with a live clock showing the simulated time. Or drag the thumb along the <strong>timeline bar</strong> beneath the scope to scrub to any instant - the bar shows the day's changing sky colours with sunrise (↑) and sunset (↓) markers at their real times. Press play again, or release, to return to now.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How do I set or change my location?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Use the search bar at the top of the forecast page. Type any city, town, village, or postcode and select from the dropdown results. SunScope uses the Open-Meteo geocoding API so it works for locations worldwide, not just the UK. Your last searched location is remembered automatically the next time you visit.</p>
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<h2>Sun and UV</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">What UV level is dangerous?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The World Health Organisation UV index scale:<br><br>
<strong>1-2 (Low)</strong> - No protection needed for short exposure.<br>
<strong>3-5 (Moderate)</strong> - Wear sunscreen and a hat for exposure over 30 minutes.<br>
<strong>6-7 (High)</strong> - Seek shade during midday, apply SPF 30 or above.<br>
<strong>8-10 (Very High)</strong> - Minimise direct sun between 11am and 3pm.<br>
<strong>11+ (Extreme)</strong> - Avoid outdoor exposure during peak hours entirely.<br><br>
In the UK, UV 6 or above is common on clear summer days between May and August. In southern Europe or at altitude it regularly reaches 9 or 10. SunScope shows the UV index for every hour so you can see exactly when protection is needed and when the risk drops off in the evening.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How long until I get sunburn today?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">It depends on two things: the current UV index and your skin type. SunScope shows a <strong>Burn time</strong> column estimating how many minutes you can spend in direct unshaded sun before reaching the threshold for sunburn - known as one Minimal Erythemal Dose (MED). You set your Fitzpatrick skin type in the settings and the column updates accordingly.<br><br>As a rough guide: at UV 8 or above, fair skin (type I or II) can start to burn in under 10 minutes. Medium skin types have around 20-25 minutes. Darker skin types have more natural protection but are not immune. The burn time assumes no sunscreen and no shade. Apply factor 30 or above if you will be outside for longer than your estimated window.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What is the difference between UV-A and UV-B?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">UV-A has a longer wavelength and penetrates deeper into the skin. It is present throughout all daylight hours, passes through glass, and is the primary cause of long-term skin ageing and contributes to some skin cancers. UV-B has a shorter wavelength, causes sunburn directly, and drives vitamin D production.<br><br>UV-B intensity is much more angle-dependent: strongest when the sun is high and falling sharply in early morning and late afternoon due to the longer atmospheric path the radiation must travel. SunScope shows both indices separately so you can make informed decisions about both immediate burn risk and long-term UV exposure.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How does shade affect how hot I feel?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">On a sunny day shade can make a very significant difference - often 8 to 12 degrees in UTCI terms - because it removes the direct solar radiation load entirely. However shade does not reduce the air temperature or humidity, so on very humid days you will still feel uncomfortably warm even in full shade.<br><br>SunScope shows the UTCI value for open sun exposure. If you are planning to stay in shade, the felt temperature you actually experience will be noticeably lower than the figure shown.</p>
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<h2>Pets, Heat, Vehicles and the Urban Environment</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does the Pets profile show and how does it help keep my pet safe?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The free <strong>Pets</strong> profile is built for checking outdoor conditions for a cat or dog. <strong>Fur Temp</strong> estimates coat surface temperature in direct sun, calibrated for a thin/short coat rather than a heavily-insulated breed - set your pet's fur colour (Black/Dark, Brown/Tabby, Golden/Tan, White/Pale) since darker coats absorb more solar heat and run hotter.<br><br><strong>Paw Temp</strong> estimates pavement contact temperature colour-coded by burn risk: green below 40 degrees (safe), amber 40-52 degrees (discomfort or possible burn on prolonged contact), red above 52 degrees (can burn within 60 seconds) - the same 7-second hand test applies as for concrete surface temperature. <strong>Pet Shade</strong> and <strong>Pet Home</strong> reuse the shade and indoor models but with lower, pet-specific alert thresholds, since small pets have far less capacity to dump heat than a person.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How hot does a car get in the sun?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Frighteningly hot, and faster than most people expect. On a mild 20 degree day with strong sunshine, the inside of a sealed car can reach 40-45 degrees within 20 minutes and 50 degrees or more within an hour. On a hot 30 degree day it can hit 60 degrees. The glass acts like a greenhouse, letting solar radiation in but trapping the heat inside.<br><br>SunScope calculates cabin temperature hour by hour using the actual solar radiation forecast for your location. Anything above 35 degrees is dangerous for a child or pet left inside. Above 45 degrees can be fatal within minutes. Always check the Vehicle column before leaving anyone in a parked car.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Does opening car windows reduce the temperature inside?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Yes, significantly. Open windows allow convective airflow to flush hot cabin air out continuously, reducing heat build-up by roughly 60-80% compared to a sealed vehicle. SunScope Vehicle column has a <strong>Ventilation</strong> toggle that switches the physics model to a ventilated state, showing the estimated cabin temperature with windows open alongside the sealed figure so you can compare both directly. A <strong>road speed</strong> selector (Static, Urban 20 mph, A-road 50 mph, Motorway 70 mph) sits alongside it — a moving vehicle sheds heat far faster than one parked and sealed, especially with windows open.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Is it safe to leave a dog in a parked car?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">No. On any warm or sunny day - even with cloud cover - a sealed vehicle heats up rapidly to temperatures that can cause heatstroke and death in animals within minutes. Dogs cannot cool themselves as efficiently as humans and are at risk at cabin temperatures above 32 degrees.<br><br>SunScope Vehicle interior column gives an hour-by-hour estimate of cabin temperature. If the forecast shows values in amber (above 35 degrees) or red (above 45 degrees), the vehicle is not safe for a dog, cat, or young child, even for a few minutes. In the UK it is also a criminal offence to leave an animal in a vehicle in conditions likely to cause suffering.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How hot does pavement or concrete get in summer?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Exposed concrete and tarmac can be 15-25 degrees hotter than the surrounding air on a sunny day. Unlike grass they have no evaporative cooling, and their dark colour means they absorb a large fraction of incoming solar radiation. They also radiate that heat back upward, making urban areas feel significantly warmer than open countryside - known as the urban heat island effect.<br><br>The rule of thumb: if you cannot hold your hand on the surface for 7 seconds it is too hot for dog paw pads. SunScope Concrete surface column estimates pavement temperature using an energy-balance model driven by the real solar radiation forecast. The <strong>Pets</strong> profile shows the same estimate as a dedicated <strong>Paw Temp</strong> column, colour-coded green/amber/red by burn risk (below 40°C, 40-52°C, above 52°C), alongside a <strong>Fur Temp</strong> column for direct-sun coat heating.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Is it safe to run outside today?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope gives you three numbers that together answer this.<br><br>Check <strong>UTCI</strong>: below 26 degrees is comfortable for running, 26-32 is warm so hydrate well and slow your pace, above 32 is heat stress and you should move your run to early morning or evening instead.<br><br>Check <strong>AQI</strong>: if it is 4 or 5, outdoor exercise significantly increases the amount of pollutants your lungs absorb - consider moving indoors on those days.<br><br>Check <strong>UV</strong>: if the index is 6 or above and you will be out during midday, apply sunscreen and cover exposed skin.<br><br>Early morning usually gives comfortable temperatures, low UV, and good air quality all at once - the sweet spot for outdoor exercise.</p>
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<h2>Your Home</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">How do I keep my house cool in a heatwave without air conditioning?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The standard approach is to keep curtains and blinds closed during the day to block direct solar gain through windows, then open windows once the outdoor air temperature drops below the indoor temperature - usually in the evening or early morning. SunScope Home profile lets you select your building type so the model reflects how your building actually heats up and retains heat. Ticking <strong>Managed</strong> shows what you could achieve by following this advice hour by hour - so you can see exactly when to open up for maximum benefit.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Why is my house hotter in the evening than during the day?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Building materials absorb heat slowly throughout the day and release it gradually over several hours - a property called thermal mass. A solid stone cottage or Victorian terrace has very high thermal mass and can stay warm well into the night, while a timber frame new build or conservatory responds almost immediately to outdoor temperature changes.<br><br>SunScope building type selector lets you match the model to your actual home, so the indoor temperature lag it shows reflects your building rather than a generic average.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What is thermal mass and why does it matter?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Thermal mass is the ability of a material to absorb, store, and slowly release heat. Heavy materials like stone, brick, and concrete have high thermal mass - they warm up slowly during the day but also release that heat slowly overnight, keeping rooms warmer later into the night. Lightweight materials like timber and glass have low thermal mass and respond quickly to temperature changes.<br><br>This is why a stone cottage stays cool during a hot day but can feel stuffy at midnight, while a modern timber-frame house heats up and cools down much faster. SunScope Home profile uses the thermal mass of your selected building type to model indoor temperature across the full day and into the following morning.</p>
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<h2>Air Quality and Pollen</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does an air quality index of 3 mean?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope uses the European Air Quality Index, which runs from 1 (Very Good) to 5 (Very Poor). An <strong>AQI of 3 means Moderate</strong>. For most healthy people this is fine - you can go about your day normally.<br><br>But if you have asthma, a heart condition, or a respiratory illness, or if you are elderly or very young, you may start to notice some effects at this level - a slight tightening of the chest, irritated eyes, or fatigue during exercise. At AQI 4 (Poor) everyone should reduce prolonged outdoor exercise and sensitive groups should avoid it entirely. At AQI 5 (Very Poor) even healthy people should limit time outside. The AQI in SunScope combines five pollutants: PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What is the difference between PM2.5 and PM10?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">PM stands for particulate matter - tiny particles suspended in the air. <strong>PM10</strong> refers to particles up to 10 micrometres in diameter, which includes dust, pollen, and mould spores. <strong>PM2.5</strong> refers to much finer particles up to 2.5 micrometres, including combustion particles from vehicle exhausts and wood burning.<br><br>PM2.5 is the more dangerous of the two because the particles are small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs and enter the bloodstream. On high-pollution days PM2.5 is usually the dominant driver of the AQI value shown in SunScope.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does the pollen count mean for hay fever sufferers?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope shows pollen in grains per cubic metre of air:<br><br>
<strong>Below 10</strong> - Low. Most people will not notice symptoms.<br>
<strong>10-30</strong> - Moderate. Sensitive sufferers may get mild symptoms.<br>
<strong>30-80</strong> - High. Most hay fever sufferers will have symptoms.<br>
<strong>Above 80</strong> - Very High. Symptoms likely even with antihistamines.<br><br>
Choose the right pollen type for you - SunScope lets you pick from grass, birch, alder, mugwort, olive, ragweed, or total pollen, so you see only the count relevant to your allergy. In the UK grass peaks June to August. Birch and alder peak in spring. Pollen counts are often lower after rain and in the evenings.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does visibility mean in the forecast?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Visibility in SunScope is horizontal visibility in kilometres - the distance at which you could clearly see a known object. As a guide:<br><br>
<strong>Below 1 km</strong> - Dense fog. Dangerous for driving.<br>
<strong>1-4 km</strong> - Fog or thick mist.<br>
<strong>4-10 km</strong> - Hazy but manageable.<br>
<strong>Above 10 km</strong> - Good visibility.<br><br>
Visibility drops sharply in fog, heavy rain, snow, dust events, and high-pollution days. It is sourced from the Copernicus CAMS forecast via Open-Meteo.</p>
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<h2>Farming and Outdoors</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">What does dew point mean and why does it matter?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The dew point is the temperature at which air becomes saturated with moisture and water starts to condense. When the outdoor air temperature falls to the dew point, fog forms and surfaces become wet with dew or frost.<br><br>For organic growers this is critical - applying foliar feeds or organic sprays when the temperature is near the dew point risks poor uptake and possible leaf scorch. For caravanners a high dew point overnight means wet awnings and condensation in the morning. A dew point above 18 degrees feels oppressively humid even if the air temperature is not extreme, because sweat cannot evaporate efficiently.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What is the difference between a ground frost and an air frost?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">An <strong>air frost</strong> is when the official air temperature measured 1.2 metres above the ground falls below 0 degrees. A <strong>ground frost</strong> is when the temperature at or just above the surface falls below 0 degrees - which can happen even when the air temperature is 2 or 3 degrees, because the ground radiates heat upward on clear still nights and chills faster than the air above it.<br><br>Ground frosts are what damage tender plants, ice over car windscreens, and make paths slippery. They can catch you out on nights when the weather app says above zero. SunScope flags frost events in the weather event banners above the table.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">When is it safe to spray crops or apply foliar feeds?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Whether you are applying an organic foliar feed, a compost tea, or a permitted copper or sulphur treatment, safe spraying requires low wind speeds - typically below 3 metres per second - to prevent drift onto neighbouring land, watercourses, or buffer zones, which matters for maintaining organic certification. Cooler temperatures reduce evaporation and the risk of leaf scorch, and spraying in the evening protects foraging bees and other beneficial insects. You want no rain forecast for several hours so the product is not washed off before it can work, and the temperature comfortably above the dew point to avoid condensation interfering with coverage.<br><br>SunScope Farming profile shows wind speed and direction, air temperature, relative humidity, dew point, and precipitation all in one view - so you have every variable you need without switching between multiple apps.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What soil temperature do seeds need to germinate?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Most vegetable seeds need soil temperatures above 7-10 degrees to germinate reliably. Warm-season crops like courgettes, beans, and sweetcorn need 12-15 degrees or more. Cool-season crops like lettuce and spinach can germinate at 4-5 degrees. Sowing too early into cold soil leads to seeds rotting before they sprout.<br><br>SunScope shows both surface soil temperature and the 6 cm depth temperature - the root zone where germination actually happens. The 6 cm figure lags behind the surface by several hours and gives a more realistic picture of what seeds in the ground are actually experiencing.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How can I tell if the ground is too wet for a motorhome or caravan?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope soil moisture column shows the volumetric water content of the top centimetre of soil in cubic metres per cubic metre. As a guide:<br><br>
<strong>Above 0.4</strong> - Saturated. A heavy vehicle is likely to sink or churn the surface.<br>
<strong>0.3-0.4</strong> - Damp but borderline. Proceed with caution.<br>
<strong>Below 0.3</strong> - Usually firm enough for most vehicles.<br>
<strong>Below 0.2</strong> - Dry and solid.<br><br>
The Vehicle profile includes soil moisture by default for motorhome and caravan users assessing pitch suitability before arriving on site.</p>
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<h2>About SunScope</h2>
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<summary class="faq-q">Does SunScope show air quality and pollen forecasts?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Yes. Three air environment columns sit after Cloud cover in the table: <strong>Visibility</strong> (horizontal visibility in km, useful for fog, haze, and driving conditions), <strong>AQI</strong> (the European Air Quality Index combining PM2.5, PM10, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and sulphur dioxide), and <strong>Pollen</strong> (concentration in grains per cubic metre with a type picker for grass, birch, alder, mugwort, olive, ragweed, or total). All three are sourced from the Copernicus CAMS forecast via Open-Meteo. Toggle them using the column buttons above the table.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How far ahead does the forecast go?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The free tier shows 3 days of hourly data. SunScope Extra unlocks 14 days. The forecast auto-refreshes every 5 minutes while the page is open, so the current hour always reflects the latest available data from Open-Meteo. You do not need to manually reload the page to get the freshest figures.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">How accurate is SunScope?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope uses Open-Meteo forecast data sourced from ECMWF and national meteorological services - the same underlying models used by professional forecasters. The UTCI calculation follows the peer-reviewed Bröde 2012 polynomial exactly.<br><br>The derived columns - vehicle temperature, indoor temperature, concrete surface - are physics-based estimates rather than measured values, and will vary based on local factors like building construction, shading, surface colour, and vegetation. Treat them as well-informed estimates rather than precise measurements. They are consistently closer to reality than ignoring these effects entirely.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Is SunScope free?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">The core forecast is free for any location worldwide with no account required. Free includes Basic, Home, Vehicle, Pets, the Places variants Urban, Park/Picnic, Forest/Woodland, Beach, Events, and Airport/Travel, the Activities variants Dog Walking, Running, and Cycling, and the Farming view in the Work dropdown.<br><br><strong>SunScope Extra</strong> (2 pounds per month) unlocks 14-day forecasts, the specialist Places variant Festival, the specialist Activities variants Hiking, Fishing, Sailing, Winter Sports, Photography, and Naturist, the Work variants Construction, Market Trading, Window Cleaning, Office, and Driver/Trucker, the Temps comparison profile, Show All, and Custom column control where you choose exactly which columns appear and in what order.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Is there a SunScope mobile app?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">SunScope is a web app that works on any device through your browser - no installation required. On a smartphone you can add it to your home screen for a near-native app experience.<br><br>On iPhone: open SunScope in Safari, tap the Share button, then select Add to Home Screen.<br>On Android: open in Chrome, tap the three-dot menu, then Add to Home Screen.<br><br>It will appear as an icon on your phone just like a regular app and opens directly to the forecast without a browser address bar.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">What data sources does SunScope use?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Forecast data comes from <a href="https://open-meteo.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Open-Meteo</a>, which aggregates ECMWF, GFS, and national meteorological service models. The UTCI calculation follows the <a href="https://utci.org/" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Bröde et al. 2012</a> polynomial. Air quality, visibility, and pollen data are sourced from the Open-Meteo Air Quality API, which draws on the Copernicus CAMS forecast. Geolocation search uses the Open-Meteo geocoding API.</p>
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<summary class="faq-q">Does SunScope work outside the UK?</summary>
<p class="faq-a">Yes - SunScope works for any location worldwide. Search for any city, town, or village using the search bar. The indoor temperature model offers eight building types - brick, modern insulated, Victorian terrace, stone cottage, timber frame, top-floor flat, conservatory, and office block - so you can pick the one that best matches your building wherever you are. All other columns (UTCI, vehicle, UV, soil, concrete) are fully location-agnostic.</p>
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<p style="margin-top: 2.5rem; font-size: 0.9rem; color: #7a5c2a;">For the science and methodology behind every column, see the <a href="./about.html">About page</a>. To check current conditions for your location, go to the <a href="./index.html">Forecast</a>. Questions not answered here? Email <a href="mailto:hello@sunscope.net">hello@sunscope.net</a>.</p>
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