Autonomous Portable Solar Ultraviolet Spectroradiometer (APSUS) – a New CCD Spectrometer System for Localized, Real‐Time Solar Ultraviolet (280–400 nm) Radiation Measurement

Abstract

Terrestrial solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has significant implications for human health and increasing levels are a key concern regarding the impact of climate change. Monitoring solar UV radiation at the earth's surface is therefore of increasing importance. A new prototype portable CCD (charge-coupled device) spectrometer-based system has been developed that monitors UV radiation (280-400 nm) levels at the earth's surface. It has the ability to deliver this information to the public in real time. Since the instrument can operate autonomously, it is called the Autonomous Portable Solar Ultraviolet Spectroradiometer (APSUS). This instrument incorporates an Ocean Optics QE65000 spectrometer which is contained within a robust environmental housing. The APSUS system can gather reliable solar UV spectral data from approximately April to October inclusive (depending on ambient temperature) in the UK. In this study the new APSUS unit and APSUS system are presented. Example solar UV spectra and diurnal UV Index values as measured by the APSUS system in London and Weymouth in the UK in summer 2012 are shown.

International Intercomparison of Solar UVR Spectral Measurement Systems in Melbourne in 2013

“…The PHE spectroradiometer is an APSUS unit (serial number 1)—a portable, stand‐alone, spectral solar UVR measurement system based on the QE65000 CCD array spectroradiometer from Ocean Optics . The APSUS unit is not temperature controlled.…”

“…The APSUS unit input optics consisted of a 3.8 cm diameter integrating sphere and a short optical fiber. The integrating sphere did not include an internal baffle, however, the APSUS unit was oriented such that any hot spot effect due to the position of the sun and the geometry of the integrating sphere would be avoided . The angular response of the integrating sphere remains within 5% of the ideal cosine response for angles of incidence between approximately ±40 o .…”

“…The integrating sphere did not include an internal baffle, however, the APSUS unit was oriented such that any hot spot effect due to the position of the sun and the geometry of the integrating sphere would be avoided . The angular response of the integrating sphere remains within 5% of the ideal cosine response for angles of incidence between approximately ±40 o . The stability of the APSUS unit was checked in Melbourne during the intercomparison (30 and 31 October 2013) and in the UK after the intercomparison (28 November 2013) using three 200 W tungsten‐halogen lamps in a light‐tight housing provided by CMS Schreder (CMS Ing.Dr.Schreder GmbH, Kirchbichl, Austria).…”

“…The adverse health effects of solar UVR have been known for some time , particularly in Australia and New Zealand where levels of skin cancer are among the highest in the world . Monitoring programs using UVR detectors have been initiated in numerous countries around the world in an effort to quantify the ambient levels of solar UVR people are exposed to . Data from some of these networks are disseminated to the public as UV Index in efforts to change the population's behavior while outdoors and reduce sun exposure and thereby reduce the subsequent rates of skin cancer.…”

Quality assessment of solar UV irradiance measured with array spectroradiometers

“…UKA and UKQ are QE65000 ASRMs covering the wavelength range between 290 and 400 nm. The QE65000 instrument -labelled here as UKA -is a part of the autonomous portable solar ultraviolet spectroradiometer (APSUS) designed and operated by Public Health England (Hooke et al, 2014). APSUS consists of a weatherproof housing without any additional temperature control.…”