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International Intercomparison of Solar UVR Spectral Measurement Systems in M elbourne in 2013
Author(s) -
Gies Peter,
Hooke Rebecca,
McKenzie Richard,
O'Hagan John,
Henderson Stuart,
Pearson Andy,
Khazova Marina,
Javorniczky John,
King Kerryn,
Tully Matt,
Kotkamp Michael,
Forgan Bruce,
Rhodes Stephen
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
photochemistry and photobiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.818
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1751-1097
pISSN - 0031-8655
DOI - 10.1111/php.12492
Subject(s) - spectroradiometer , environmental science , meteorology , spectrometer , index (typography) , remote sensing , sky , quality assurance , agency (philosophy) , angstrom , atmospheric sciences , physics , computer science , optics , reflectivity , geography , chemistry , business , service (business) , marketing , world wide web , crystallography , philosophy , epistemology
Monitoring ambient solar UVR levels provides information on how much there is in both real time and historically. Quality assurance of ambient measurements of solar UVR is critical to ensuring accuracy and stability and this can be achieved by regular intercomparisons of spectral measurement systems with those of other organizations. In O ctober and N ovember of 2013 a solar UVR spectroradiometer from P ublic H ealth E ngland ( PHE ) was brought to M elbourne for a campaign of intercomparisons with a new B entham spectrometer of A ustralian R adiation P rotection and N uclear S afety A gency ( ARPANSA ) and one at the A ustralian B ureau of M eteorology ( BOM ), supported by New Zealand's N ational I nstitute for W ater and A tmosphere ( NIWA ). Given all three spectroradiometers have calibrations that are traceable to various national standards, the intercomparison provides a chance to determine measurement uncertainties and traceability that support UV measurement networks in A ustralia, N ew Z ealand and the UK . UV I ndex measurements from all three systems were compared and ratios determined for clear sky conditions when the scans from each instrument were within 2 min of each other. While wavelengths below 305 nm showed substantial differences between the PHE unit and the two other systems, overall the intercomparison results were encouraging, with mean differences in measured UV Index between the BOM / NIWA and those of PHE and ARPANSA of <0.1% and 7.5%, respectively.