Solar radiations > Ground station Mol at VITO

Ground based measurements

The Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy has an automatic station to measure visible UV solar radiations in Brussels (Uccle/Ukkel). A number of instruments, identical to those in Brussels, are installed in Mol (VITO, Flemish institute for technological research) as well:

• 1 UV-B meter (280-315 nm),
• 1 UV-A meter (315-400 nm),
• 1 Pyranometer (300-3000nm).
• Radiometer with filters (type GUV 511C) .
• Weather station (temperature, air pressure, relative humidity, wind speed and direction, pluviometers)

The observational instruments allow to determine the "UV climatology" of the observation place and to study the influence of ozone, aerosols and layers of clouds on the penetration of UV-radiation.

 

Results

The station measures among other things the UV-index and the erythemal dose during noon.

The UV-index is an international scale, which shows the effective intensity of the UV-radiations and the risks involved.

< 2	Low	No protection is required. You can safely stay outside.
3-5	Medium	Some protection required. Seek shade during midday hours. Wear sun protective clothing, including a hat and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours.
6-7	High	Some protection required. Seek shade during midday hours. Wear sun protective clothing, including a shirt, a hat and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours.
8-10	Very high	Extra protection required. Avoid being outside during midday hours. Make sure to seek shade. Wear sun protective clothing including a shirt, a hat and sunglasses. Apply sunscreen twenty minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.
> 11	Extreme	Caution required. Avoid being outside during midday hours. Make sure to seek shade. Wear sun protective clothing including a shirt, a hat and sunglasses. Apply sunblock twenty minutes before going outside and reapply every two hours.

The erythemal dose is the harmful dose of UV-radiations causing sunburns.

The following diagrams are the result of processing the data:

• REAL TIME Results, UV-A, UV-B, Total Solar Pyrano and UV index in Mol

• UV index in 2011
• UV index from 2009 to present day

More diagrams, other years