The solar UV radiation environment: Measurement techniques and results

The Australian Radiation Laboratory (ARL) has been involved for many years in the measurement of solar UV radiation (UVR) using spectroradiometers and a network of broad-band detectors at 16 sites in Australia and Antarctica. Measurement locations range from tropical to polar and, as a result, there are many difficulties associated with the maintenance and calibration of the network to ensure an accurate and reliable data collection. Calibration procedures for the various detectors involve comparison with simultaneous spectral measurements obtained using a portable spectroradiometer incorporating a double monochromator, calibrated against traceable standard lamps. Detector-datalogger systems are also intercompared at the Yallambie site for a number of months before installation at another site. As an additional check on the calibrations, computer models of solar UVR at the earth's surface for days with clear sky and known ozone values are compared with the UV radiometer measurements. The use of chemical, biological and solid state personal UVR dosimeters is discussed and some measurement results are presented.