Issue 3, 2004

Relationship between UVB and erythemally weighted radiation

Abstract

We discuss the move from reporting damaging UV radiation in terms of UVB to the now widely accepted erythemally weighted UV radiation (UVEry) and the UV Index (UVI). The relationship between these quantities is given: to a good approximation, it is found that UVB280–315 nm = 7.55 × UVEry. In terms of the UV Index, the estimated UVB280–315 nm in units of W m−2 is 18.9 times the UVI. These approximations generally hold to within ∼10% for all solar zenith angles (sza) less than 70°. For most practical purposes, this is a sufficient range, since for larger sza, the intensity of UVB is less than 10% of that for overhead sun conditions. The simple relationship above is verified using spectral measurements. However, tables are provided to enable calculation of the conversion with greater accuracy under such conditions. Similar model calculations are provided to estimate UVB280–320 nm. Correction tables to convert erythemally weighted UV to other biological weightings are also presented.

Graphical abstract: Relationship between UVB and erythemally weighted radiation

Supplementary files

Additions and corrections

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
17 Oct 2003
Accepted
01 Dec 2003
First published
28 Jan 2004

Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2004,3, 252-256

Relationship between UVB and erythemally weighted radiation

R. McKenzie, D. Smale and M. Kotkamp, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2004, 3, 252 DOI: 10.1039/B312985C

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