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WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH Report of the WMO-WHO Meeting of Experts on Standardization of UV Indi qAvJ 1'2.1- T.D <J ZI I WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION GLOBAL ATMOSPHERE WATCH '- No. 127 Report of the WMO-WHO Meeting of Experts on Standardization of UV Indices and their Dissemination to the Public (les Diablerets, Switzerlaod, 21-24 July 1997) "r•T\Y • t'01/-'' ', I. ~V ~~) ' "'""-!!o ..,..:.,.,·· ___ r.. ._,_~I'Ti lh \J./ ,.;; f} er . 'f ~-/: <--· ... : ·"' :· J ?. ~ ..: j, - •• • WMO/TD-No. 921 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1. OPENING OF THE MEETING ............................................................... 1 2. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS ................................................................ 1 3. MEASUREMENTS, MODELLING AND QUALITY CONTROL ............... 2 4. UV INDEX PROGRAMMES ................................................................... 5 5. EFFECTIVENESS OF INDICES AND DISSEMINATION TO THE PUBLIC .................................................................................... 7 6. CLOSURE OF THE MEETING ............................................................. 11 ANNEX A: Agenda ................................................................................... 13 ANNEX 8: Meeting Programme ............................................................... 15 ANNEX C: List of Participants .................................................................. 19 ANNEX D: Presentations to the session on Measurements, Modelling and Quality Control .................................................................. 27 ANNEXE: Presentations to the session of UV Index Programmes .......... 93 ANNEX F: Presentations to the session of Effectiveness of Indices and and Dissemination to the Public ............................................ 161 - ---- - -- ---- -- ---- -- - ---- --- ------ -- -- -- -- - -- -- -- --- --------- - --- -- - -- --- -- ANNEX G: Recommendations for the determination of UV Index ........... 183 ANNEX H: UV Web pages ..................................................................... 185 ANNEX 1: Contact addresses ................................................................ 187 :;. 1. OPENING OF THE MEETING 1.1 The representative of the World Meteorological Organization, Liisa Jalkanen, opened the meeting and welcomed all participants on behalf of the Secretary-General Professor G.O.P. Obasi. Ms Jalkanen reminded the participants of the previous meeting on UV Indices, held in the summer of 1994 in Les Diablerets. At that meeting the first attempt to harmonize the UV Index was made and the current definition ofUV Index was decided upon. The World Health Organization representative, Michael Repacholi, welcomed the participants on behalf of WHO and noted the importance of collaboration on UV Index between WHO, WMO and ICNIRP. David Sliney welcomed the group of experts on behalf of Jtirgen Bemhardt, the chair ofthe International Commission on Non­ Ionizing Radiation Protection, ICNIRP. The Global Solar UV Index booklet was published by ICNIRP as a joint recommendation of WHO, WMO, UNEP and ICNIRP after the 1994 Les Diablerets meeting. 1.2 Experts have reported that human exposure to UV radiation has dramatically increased in the latter half of this century. This is mainly due to the change in the sun habits of people: more of the human skin is subject to ultraviolet (UV) radiation and a "good" tan became desirable. Also, the stratospheric ozone decline is contributing to the increase of UV radiation reaching the human population. This ozone decline during the past 25 years has been well documented (see WMO Ozone Reports 18, 20, 25). As a result of the increased exposure, the number of diagnoses of melanoma and nonmelanoma skin cancers, as well as cataracts, has risen markedly since 1980. Relationships between UV radiation and biological effects on humans, animals and plants continue to be established (WHO Report No. 160). The first education campaigns on the hazards of overexposure to UV radiation were started in Queensland, Australia in the 1980's. Other countries have joined in and consequently a number of nationally sponsored UV stations or networks have been put into operation and also diagnostic and/or predictive levels of UV -B reaching the ground have been initiated. One of the goals of the Les Diablerets meeting was to harmonize the various UV indices that were in use and to this end guidelines for index calculation for worldwide use were prepared. 1.3 When establishing a UV programme, most countries wish to achieve one or more of the following objectives: to develop a UV climatology; to understand the cause-effect relationship between factors that influence UV levels; to develop a reliable data base ofUV observations to evaluate trends; to increase public awareness of UV changes and potential effects of UV. 2. MEETING ARRANGEMENTS 2.1 The Meeting structure comprised individual presentations on three broad themes over the first three days, followed by working group sessions and a plenary discussion on the final day. The broad themes of the UV issue under consideration were: i) Measurements, Modelling and Quality Control; ii) UV Index Programmes; and iii) Effectiveness of Indices and Dissemination to the Public. - 1 - 2.2 The Agenda, as agreed, can be found in Annex A. Annex B contains the detailed meeting programme. A list of participants is in Annex C. 3. MEASUREMENTS, MODELLING AND QUALITY CONTROL Measurements and modelling 3.1 UV Index can be provided as past record, nowcast or forecast. In order to achieve information on UV Index we need measurements, models and validation procedures. To a large extent, the goals of any given UV monitoring network will determine the key aspects of the programme, for example, type of instrumentation, selection of sites for observing stations, observing methods and frequency of observations, and mechanisms for calibration. From the international standpoint, it is important that individual networks coordinate their methods of observation and calibrations in order to determine the global UV climatology and trends. In this regard, following up on a proposal made at a WMO meeting of experts on UV -B measurements held in 1994 (GAW Report No. 95), an international Scientific Steering Committee on UV has been established, under the auspices ofWMO, to guide, amongst others, harmonization ofUV measurements. 3.2 With respect to the accuracy of measurements for providing UV indices, the Meeting stated that it is not as demanding as for research purposes. Spectrally-resolved measurements are required in more specific research applications and for model validation. Nevertheless, if properly maintained with an ·appropriate quality control/assurance programme, broad-band meters and multi-filter instruments can be used for establishing a climatology of the UV Index. The Meeting noted, however, that all data must be qualified (uncertainties specified). 3.3 In this regard, accuracies plus or minus 15% should be achievable (or less than one index point for indices lower than 5). Future improvements to the plus or minus 10% level or better are desirable and should be targeted. 3.4 Instruments for measuring UV will be described in the WMO/GAW publication "Instruments to Measure Solar Ultraviolet Radiation". Guidelines for site quality control are given in the W.MO/GA W publication "Guidelines for Site Quality Control of UV Monitoring". Each group providing UV Index measurements should have procedures for maintaining instrument calibration according to these documents. The UMAP-WMO "Workshop on Broadband UV Radiometers" report also provides further guidance on instrument calibration. The Meeting urged that these documents be finalized and made available to the wider scientific community as soon as possible. 3.5 Several groups have reported large changes in the sensitivity of broad-band meters currently in use. These changes can be great enough to compromise the utility of the UV Index. Therefore, the Meeting strongly advised manufacturers to investigate ways to improve their long term stability and degradation. Also, any ~nstrumental changes made by the manufacturers should be made very clear. - 2 - 3.6 The Meeting then turned to modelling aspects of UV. Although model calculations are required for UV forecasting, these modelling requirements are not as high as those needed for research projects. 3. 7 The Meeting stated that while there may be some advantages to using a standard model for global forecasts ofUV Index, in reality, different countries may want to use their own methods. In this case, cross calibrations of models are required. This can be facilitated by the use of web site links, some ofwhich are already existing. 3.8 The single most difficult and important issue for modelling/forecasting UV levels concerns clouds. Clouds are problematic for a number of reasons: a) It is difficult to forecast the type and/or amount; b) Clouds can increase as well as decrease UV irradiances; c) This increase/decrease often depends upon whether the sun is obscured or not. This is very difficult to predict. Scattered cloud is the most difficult to model; d) More basic research is needed to understand the cloud characteristics which are most important for determining their effect on UV radiative transfer (cloud optical depth?, cloud amount?, opacity?), and how to determine these characteristics. 3.9 In addition to clouds, the Meeting considered that ground level ozone and urban pollution need to be addressed for modelling/forecasting. These can also have significant influence on incident UV. 3.10 The Meeting questioned the need for large measurement networks if, (given
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