Open AccessComparison of measured and modelled uv indices for the assessment of health risks
Author(s) -
De Backer Hugo,
Koepke Peter,
Bais Alkiviadis,
de Cabo Xavier,
Frei Thomas,
Gillotay Didier,
Haite Christine,
Heikkilä Anu,
Kazantzidis Andreas,
Koskela Tapani,
Kyrö Esko,
Lapeta Bozena,
Lorente Jeronimo,
Masson Kaisa,
Mayer Bernhard,
Plets Hans,
Redondas Alberto,
Renaud Anne,
Schauberger Gunther,
Schmalwieser Alois,
Schwander Harry,
Vanicek Karel
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
meteorological applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 59
eISSN - 1469-8080
pISSN - 1350-4827
DOI - 10.1017/s1350482701003024
Subject(s) - environmental science , sky , solar zenith angle , zenith , meteorology , latitude , index (typography) , atmospheric sciences , computer science , geography , remote sensing , physics , geodesy , world wide web
The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have jointly recommended that the UV Index (UVI) should be used to inform the public about possible health risks due to overexposure to solar radiation, especially skin damage. To test the current operational status of measuring and modelling techniques used in providing the public with UVI information, this article compares cloudless sky UVIs (measured using five instruments at four locations with different latitudes and climate) with the results of 13 models used in UVI forecasting schemes. For the models, only location, total ozone and solar zenith angle were provided as input parameters. In many cases the agreement is acceptable, i.e. less than 0.5 UVI. Larger differences may originate from instrumental errors and shortcomings in the models and their input parameters. A possible explanation for the differences between models is the treatment of the unknown input parameters, especially aerosols. Copyright © 2001 Royal Meteorological Society