This paper describes the evaluation of a ground-based sky camera system for
studying the effect of clouds on the level of the ambient ultraviolet radi
ation. The system has been developed for research in the characterization o
f the effect of clouds around the sun. It is the first sky camera system to
be used for the assessment of cloud conditions in the vicinity of the sun,
rather than a whole-sky assessment. The system features a sun-tracking sky
camera with an integrated measurement of horizontally received radiation a
t the same location. The image-processing algorithm uses solar radiation re
adings to reduce reflections from die sun on the camera system being mistak
en for cloud in the images. Cloud amount was estimated in an angular region
of between 12.5 degrees;md 37.5 degrees around the sun. The algorithm also
estimates the amount of solar obstruction by cloud (sun not covered, parti
ally or totally covered). The system was evaluated during September 1997 at
Toowoomba, Australia (27.6 degrees S latitude). Compared to manual assessm
ent of 592 images, 76.5% were identified correctly by the algorithm for the
degree of solar obstruction and 81.9% for cloud amount. The behavior of ul
traviolet radiation levels with cloud conditions is discussed.