UV solar irradiance from broadband radiation and other meteorological data

The paper deals with the computation of ultraviolet (UV) solar irradiance in association with the main atmospheric attenuators. Two new models are put forward. The first model (to be named UV4M) evaluates beam and diffuse solar irradiance via a set of updated parametric atmospheric transmittances. In the second model (UV2G) the ozone and nitrogen dioxide column content are ruled out from the list of the UV4M input parameters, aiming to overcome the scarcity of ground data recorded. To build-up UV2G model, a new approach which relates the UV and broadband solar irradiation components is reported en detail. The advantages of UV2G like-type models stem from the synergism among the possibility of using accurate parametric equations derived from spectral codes and the more available broadband solar radiation data. Along the paper, comparison with other models and raw data is discussed. Based on the overall results it can be concluded that UV4MP and UV2G perform with acceptable accuracy and can be considered useful alternatives for estimating UV solar irradiance.