Aerosol and Clouds

Intercomparison and harmonization of UV Index measurements from multiband filter radiometers

  1. Bjørn Johnsen1,
  2. Berit Kjeldstad2,
  3. Tommy Nakken Aalerud1,
  4. Lill Tove Nilsen1,
  5. Josef Schreder3,
  6. Mario Blumthaler4,
  7. Germar Bernhard5,
  8. Chrysanthi Topaloglou6,
  9. Outi Meinander7,
  10. Asadollah Bagheri2,
  11. James R. Slusser8,
  12. John Davis8

Article first published online: 12 AUG 2008

DOI: 10.1029/2007JD009731

Issue

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (1984–2012)

Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres (1984–2012)

Additional Information

How to Cite

Johnsen, B., et al. (2008), Intercomparison and harmonization of UV Index measurements from multiband filter radiometers, J. Geophys. Res., 113, D15206, doi:10.1029/2007JD009731.

Author Information

  1. 1

    Section for Non-Ionizing Radiation, Norwegian Radiation Protection Authority, Østerås, Norway

  2. 2

    Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway

  3. 3

    CMS Ing. Dr. Schreder GmbH, Kirchbichl, Austria

  4. 4

    Division for Biomedical Physics, Innsbruck Medical University, Innsbruck, Tyrol, Austria

  5. 5

    Biospherical Instruments Inc., San Diego, California, USA

  6. 6

    Laboratory of Atmospheric Physics, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece

  7. 7

    Earth Observation, Finnish Meteorological Institute, Helsinki, Finland

  8. 8

    USDA/UVB Monitoring Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado, USA

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 12 AUG 2008
  2. Article first published online: 12 AUG 2008
  3. Manuscript Accepted: 5 MAY 2008
  4. Manuscript Revised: 17 MAR 2008
  5. Manuscript Received: 19 DEC 2007

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Keywords:

  • UV Index;
  • UVR;
  • multiband filter radiometer;
  • GUV;
  • NILU-UV;
  • UVMFR-7;
  • multifilter rotating shadowband

[1] 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.

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