UK Stratospheric UV Measurements

UV Monitoring in the UK

There are currently ten UV monitoring instruments operating in the UK, one spectral, one multifilter and eight broadband.

Seven of the broadband sites belong to a network run by the HPA. These seven instruments are divided into pairs, each pair making up a Solar Monitoring System (SMS). Six pairs of instruments consist of a modified RB-500 meter (290-400nm) and a UV-A detector (315-400nm). Measurements are recorded every 5 minutes. One pair consists of a modified RB-501 and a UV-A detector. Three of the sites (Chilton, Leeds and Glasgow) have been in operation since 1988, and three (Camborne, Lerwick and Kinloss) since 1993. The seventh site on the summit of Mt. Snowdon began operation in 2003, but only operates from May to October due to seasonal difficulties with the power supply. There are also three SMS's being monitored internationally by NRPB. One of these is located in Greenland, the others are operated in Ireland.

Broadband UV Monitoring at Snowdon Summit

A single RB-501 is being independently operated by Dr. Grainger at Oxford University. The RB-501 run by Dr. Grainger was originally taking measurements every 30 minutes. As of September 1, 1993, measurements have been taken every 10 minutes.

Spectral measurements are made at Reading by Dr. Webb for the Department of the Environment, Food, and Rural Affairs. Before 2000, scans from 290 to 500 nm with 1 nm steps were made hourly with an Optronic 742 spectroradiometer. Routine data are available from December 1992. Sporadic (clear sky) spectral data are available from the same site from August 1989. Since 2000, the sampling has been increased to 0.5 nm steps at half hourly intervals and the instrument was changed over a period of time to a Bentham DM150.

A Biospherical Instruments GUV-541 multifilter radiometer has been monitoring at Manchester since 1997, run by Dr. Webb. It records 5 minute averages during daylight hours. Ozone measurements began at the same site in Manchester in 2000 with a Brewer Mk III spectroradiometer and the same instrument measures spectral UV from 290-365 nm.

Manchester Monitoring Equipment