The measurement of solar ultraviolet radiation

High skin cancer rates, stratospheric ozone depletion and increased public interest and concern have resulted in a strong demand for solar ultraviolet radiation measurements and information. The Australian Radiation Laborator y (ARL) has been involved since the mid-1980s in the measurement of solar u ltraviolet radiation (UVR) using spectroradiometers (SRM) and a network of broadband detectors at 18 sites in Australia and Antarctica and in Singapor e through a collaborative agreement with the Singapore Institute of Science and Forensic Medicine. Measurement locations range from equatorial (Singap ore, 1.3 degrees N) through tropical (Darwin, 12.4 degrees S) to polar (Maw son, 67.6 degrees S) and as a result there are many difficulties associated with maintenance and calibration of the network detectors, and transfer of data to ensure an accurate and reliable data collection. Calibration proce dures for the various detectors involve the comparison with simultaneous sp ectral measurements using a portable SRM incorporating a double monochromat or, calibrated against traceable standard lamps. Laboratory measurements of cosine response and responsivity are also made. Detectors are intercompare d at the Yallambie site for a number of months before installation at anoth er location. As an additional check on the calibrations, computer models of solar WR at the earth's surface for days with clear sky and known ozone ar e compared with the UV radiometer measurements. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B .V. All rights reserved.