Precise calculations of the total Rayleigh-scattering optical depth have been performed at 88 wavelengths ranging from 0.20 to 4.00 microm for the six well-known standard atmosphere models by integrating the volume Rayleigh-scattering coefficient along the vertical atmospheric path from sea level to a 120-km height. The coefficient was determined by use of an improved algorithm based on the Ciddor algorithm [Appl. Opt. 35, 1566 (1996)], extended by us over the 0.20-0.23-microm wavelength range to evaluate the moist air refractive index as a function of wavelength, air pressure, temperature, water-vapor partial pressure, and CO2 volume concentration. The King depolarization factor was also defined taking into account the moisture conditions of air. The results indicate that the influence of water vapor on Rayleigh scattering cannot be neglected at tropospheric altitudes: for standard atmospheric conditions represented in terms of the U.S. Standard Atmosphere (1976) model, the relative variations produced by water vapor in the Rayleigh scattering parameters at a 0.50-microm wavelength turn out to be equal to -0.10% in the moist air refractivity at sea level (where the water-vapor partial pressure is equal to approximately 7.8 hPa), -0.04% in the sea-level King factor, -0.24% in the sea-level Rayleigh-scattering cross section, and -0.06% in the Rayleigh-scattering optical depth.

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[1] A 4 year set of vertical profiles of pressure, temperature and relative humidity derived from 1113 radiosounding measurements performed at Dome C (Antarctica) at 12:00 UTC of each day, from late March 2005 to March 2009, were analyzed using an updated procedure for removing the most important temperature and humidity errors and dry biases. The monthly mean vertical profiles of pressure, temperature, and moisture parameters were determined, providing evidence of the strong seasonal variations in temperature occurring within the ground layer and in the tropopause region. The results are presented for use in the analysis of the ground-based measurements of both short-and long-wave radiation budget terms routinely performed at this site, and to better investigate the water vapor role in the Antarctic Plateau surface-atmosphere system. The evaluation of atmospheric water vapor content W (precipitable water) is of great relevance for astronomical studies, to verify that high atmospheric transmission conditions exist, especially in the submillimeter and millimeter range, for the exceptionally dry air characteristics of the Dome C atmosphere. The monthly mean data sets of moisture parameters were analyzed to determine the monthly mean vertical profiles of absolute humidity, and to evaluate the daily values of W, varying from less than 0.30 mm (from June to October) to more than 0.60 mm in January, on average. The monthly mean percentiles of W indicate that this parameter is expected to be lower than 0.20 mm on at least 25% of days from May to October, indicating that very high atmospheric transparency conditions should occur in the infrared-millimeter spectral range on at least 40 days during austral autumn and winter.Citation: Tomasi, C., B. Petkov, E. Benedetti, L. Valenziano, and V. Vitale (2011), Analysis of a 4 year radiosonde data set at Dome C for characterizing temperature and moisture conditions of the Antarctic atmosphere,

[1] Two sets of radiosounding measurements were taken at Dome C (Antarctica) in December 2003 and January 2003, using RS80-A, RS80-H, and RS90 Vaisala radiosondes, and from March to May 2005, employing the RS92 model. They were examined following accurate correction procedures to remove the main relative humidity dry bias and the temperature and humidity lag errors. The results showed that a strong cooling usually characterizes the thermal conditions of the whole troposphere from December/January to April/May, with an average temperature decrease from 245 to 220 K at the ground, of around 10 K at upper tropospheric levels, and of more than 15 K in the lower stratosphere. The relative humidity data were found to be affected by dry bias of 5-10%, on average, for the RS80-A and RS80-H Humicap sensors and by smaller percentages for the other sensors. The mean monthly vertical profiles of absolute humidity were found to decrease sharply throughout the troposphere, especially within the first 3 km, and to diminish considerably passing from December/January to March/April/ May, with average values of precipitable water decreasing from 0.75 to 0.28 mm, median values from 0.69 to 0.25 mm, and first and third quartiles from 0.60 to 0.22 mm and from 0.87 to 0.34 mm, respectively. The results demonstrate that Dome C (where a permanent scientific station has been open for winter operations since austral winter 2005) is a site of comparable quality to the South Pole for both validation of satellite radiance measurements and astronomic observations in the infrared, submillimetric, and millimetric wavelength range, performed with large telescopes that cannot be carried on satellites.Citation: Tomasi, C., et al. (2006), Characterization of the atmospheric temperature and moisture conditions above Dome C (Antarctica) during austral summer and fall months,

The UV Index was established more than 20 years ago as a tool for sun protection and health care. Shortly after its introduction, UV Index monitoring started in several countries either by newly acquired instruments or by converting measurements from existing instruments into the UV Index. The number of stations and networks has increased over the years. Currently, 160 stations in 25 European countries deliver online values to the public via the Internet. In this paper an overview of these UV Index monitoring sites in Europe is given. The overview includes instruments as well as quality assurance and quality control procedures. Furthermore, some examples are given about how UV Index values are presented to the public. Through these efforts, 57% of the European population is supplied with high quality information, enabling them to adapt behaviour. Although health care, including skin cancer prevention, is cost-effective, a proportion of the European population still doesn't have access to UV Index information.

It involved 8 institutions, 10 broadband radiometers, 2 filter radiometers and 2 spectroradiometers. Synchronized measurements of downward global solar UV irradiance at the ground were collected and the raw series were then individually processed by the respective operators on the base of their own procedures and calibration data. A radiative transfer model was successfully applied as an interpretative tool. The input parameters and output results are described in detail. The comparison was performed in terms of global solar UV Index and integrated UV-A irradiance against a wellcalibrated double monochromator spectroradiometer as reference. An improved algorithm for comparing broadband data and spectra has been developed and is discussed in detail. For some instruments, we found average deviations ranging from −16 % up to 20 % relative to the reference and diurnal variations as large as 15 % even in clear days. Remarkable deviations were found for the instruments calibrated in the manufacturers' facilities and never involved in field intercomparison. Finally, some recommendations to the UV operators based on the campaign results are proposed.

The dependence functions of relative optical air mass on apparent solar zenith angle θ have been calculated over the θ < 87°range for the vertical profiles of wet-air molecular number density in the Arctic and Antarctic atmospheres, extinction coefficients of different aerosol types, and molecular number density of water vapor, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, and oxygen dimer. The calculations were made using as weight functions the seasonal average vertical profiles of (i) pressure and temperature derived from multiyear sets of radiosounding measurements performed at Ny-Ålesund, Alert, Mario Zucchelli, and Neumayer stations; (ii) volume extinction coefficients of background summer aerosol, Arctic haze, and Kasatochi and Pinatubo volcanic aerosol measured with lidars or balloon-borne samplings; and (iii) molecular number concentrations of the above minor gases, derived from radiosonde, ozonesonde, and satellite-based observations. The air mass values were determined using a formula based on a realistic atmospheric air-refraction model. They were systematically checked by comparing their mutual differences with the uncertainties arising from the seasonal and daily variations in pressure and temperature conditions within the various ranges, where aerosol and gases attenuate the solar radiation most efficiently. The results provide evidence that secant-approximated and midlatitude air mass values are inappropriate for analyzing the Sun photometer measurements performed at polar sites. They indicate that the present evaluations can be reliably used to estimate the aerosol optical depth from the Arctic and Antarctic measurements of total optical depth, after appropriate corrections for the Rayleigh scattering and gaseous absorption optical depths.

Abstract. Measurements of spectral irradiance between 306 and 1020 nm were performed with a GUVis-3511 multi-channel filter radiometer at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, during the total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017. The radiometer was equipped with a shadowband, allowing the separation of the global (sun and sky) and direct components of solar radiation. Data were used to study the wavelength-dependent changes in solar irradiance at Earth's surface. Results were compared with theoretical predictions using three different parameterizations of the solar limb darkening (LD) effect, which describes the change in the solar spectrum from the Sun's center to its limb. Results indicate that the LD parameterization that has been most widely used during the last 15 years underestimates the LD effect, in particular at UV wavelengths. The two alternative parameterizations are based on two independent sets of observations from the McMath–Pierce solar telescope. When these parameterizations are used, the observed and theoretical LD effects agree to within 4 % for wavelengths larger than 400 nm and occultation of the solar disk of up to 97.8 %. Maximum deviations for wavelengths between 315 and 340 nm are 7 %. These somewhat larger differences compared to the visible range may be explained with varying aerosol conditions during the period of observations. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) and its wavelength dependence was calculated from measurements of direct irradiance. When corrected for the LD effect, the AOD decreases over the period of the eclipse: from 0.41 to 0.34 at 319 nm and from 0.05 to 0.04 at 1018 nm. These results show that AODs can be accurately calculated during an eclipse if the LD effect is corrected. The total ozone column (TOC) was derived from measurements of global irradiance at 306 and 340 nm. Without correction for the LD effect, the retrieved TOC increases by 20 DU between the first and second contact of the eclipse. With LD correction, the TOC remains constant to within natural variability (±2.6 DU or ±0.9 % between first and second contact and ±1.0 DU or ±0.3 % between third and fourth contact). In contrast to results of observations from earlier solar eclipses, no fluctuations in TOC were observed that could be unambiguously attributed to gravity waves, which can be triggered by the supersonic speed of the Moon's shadow across the atmosphere. Furthermore, systematic changes in the ratio of direct and global irradiance that could be attributed to the solar eclipse were not observed, in agreement with results of three-dimensional (3-D) radiative transfer (RT) models. Our results advance the understanding of the effects of solar LD on the spectral irradiance at Earth's surface, the variations in ozone during an eclipse, and the partitioning of solar radiation in direct and diffuse components.