Development and Characterization of a New Solar Ultraviolet-B Irradiance Detector

Abstract Characteristics of an instrument for measuring solar ultraviolet-B irradiance are presented together with a description of the instrument. The instrument measures direct and scattered broadband ultraviolet irradiance (wavelengths between 280 and 330 nm) from the hemisphere of the sky. Measurement technique employs colored glass filters in combination with a fluorescing ultraviolet-sensitive phosphor. Thermal regulation is used to significantly reduce measurement errors introduced by changes in ambient temperature.