Shade is related to peak sun intensity hours. When the sun is low in the sky, the rays hitting an object make longer, larger shadows. When the sun is high in the sky, during peak sun intensity hours, shade areas are usually small. The best time to find large areas of shade is early in the morning or late in the afternoon. The amount of sunlight that passes through an object also affects shade quality.
Dense shade provides the most protection.
It is solid with very few or no patches of sunlight. Buildings, picnic shelters, porches, and large, leafy trees provide dense shade. Roofed playground equipment and small or sparse trees provide scattered or limited shade. Fabric shade canopies or tarps provide dense or scattered shade depending on the size of the holes in the weave of the fabric. The smaller holes of tightly woven fabric allow less UV light to pass through and provide better shade protection.