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Intercomparison and harmonization of UV Index measurements from multiband filter radiometers
Section for Non-Ionizing Radiation, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
Section for Non-Ionizing Radiation, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway
Section for Non-Ionizing Radiation, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway
CMS Ing. Dr. Schreder GmbH, Kirchbichl, Austria
Division for Biomedical Physics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria
Biospherical Instruments Inc., San Diego, California, USA
Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
Earth Observation, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland
Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
USDA/UVB Monitoring Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
USDA/UVB Monitoring Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA
Multiband filter radiometers (MBFRs) are extensively used in national measurement networks for UV climate monitoring and for informing the public about potential health risks from excessive solar UV exposure. Results from the first international intercomparison of MBFRs, arranged in Oslo in 2005, are presented. Forty-three radiometers of type GUV, NILU-UV, and UVMFR-7 were assembled, representing monitoring stations on several continents. The first objective was to conduct a blind intercomparison of Global UV Index (UVI) processed by the instrument owners. Eleven independent data sets were compared, eight of which agreed with the reference to within ±5% and ten to within ±10%. The second objective was to provide a harmonized calibration scale for all instruments. When this scale was applied, the UVI agreed to within ±5% (2-sigma) for solar zenith angles (SZAs) up to 90°. The results demonstrate that MBFRs provide accurate UVI measurements for realistic sky conditions and a wide range of SZAs, provided the calibration functions are optimized. The harmonized UVI scale is traceable to the European QASUME reference spectroradiometer.
Received 19 December 2007; accepted 5 May 2008; published 12 August 2008.
Citation: (2008), Intercomparison and harmonization of UV Index measurements from multiband filter radiometers, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D15206, doi:10.1029/2007JD009731.
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