Influence of Atmospheric Parameters on Biologically Effective Solar UV Irradiance

Abstract Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has various effects on human beings, both positive and negative. Since solar UV spectral radiation is only rarely monitored, modeling of biologically effective solar UV spectral irradiance became a common practice in research. In this study, the influence of the main atmospheric parameters, ozone and aerosol, on the level of biologically effective solar irradiance is analyzed. The impact of UV radiation on the skin is compared with the action on the retina. The analysis was performed using synthetic solar UV spectra generated with SMARTS2, a high-quality spectral solar irradiance model. The native density of the extraterrestrial UV spectrum and, correspondingly, the density of the absorption coefficients were increased by linear interpolation. From the methodological perspective, a new continuous equation for the biological action function associated with cataract is reported. The results bring to light non-intuitive effects of different aerosol classes on biologically effective solar UV irradiance.