UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region
This study introduces a new method for nowcasting UV Index maps developed within the framework of the Austrian Solar UV Measurement Network. While we focus on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in this study, the same methods are routinely applied to nowcast UV Index maps for Europe...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Remote Sensing |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/4/629 |
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| author | Barbara Klotz Regine Gradl Verena Schenzinger Michael Schwarzmann Josef Schreder Sebastian Lorenz Julian Gröbner Gregor Hülsen Axel Kreuter |
| author_facet | Barbara Klotz Regine Gradl Verena Schenzinger Michael Schwarzmann Josef Schreder Sebastian Lorenz Julian Gröbner Gregor Hülsen Axel Kreuter |
| author_sort | Barbara Klotz |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study introduces a new method for nowcasting UV Index maps developed within the framework of the Austrian Solar UV Measurement Network. While we focus on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in this study, the same methods are routinely applied to nowcast UV Index maps for Europe. The primary objective is to improve public health measures by providing timely and area-wide UV Index values. The UV Index maps are based on clear-sky calculations using data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Cloud effects are integrated using cloud modification factors determined from Meteosat Second Generation satellite imagery. To assess the representativeness of the calculated UV Index maps, the corresponding pixel values are compared to ground-based measurements for the year 2022 at 27 locations in the DACH region. For all sky conditions, the satellite-derived UV Index values are within ±1.0 UV Index of the ground-measured UV Index for at least 91% of the data at stations below 500 m a.s.l. and in flatter landscapes. For high-altitude sites and in more pronounced topographies, the values for U1.0 decrease, with the lowest agreement of 74.8% found for the Sonnblick station located at 3109 m a.s.l. Discrepancies arise due to differences in the measurement methods: ground-based measurements capture the local conditions, while satellite-derived values represent the average values over larger areas. The clear-sky deviations are most pronounced at high-altitude, snow-covered sites due to uncertainties in the surface albedo. Under all sky conditions, cloud variability adds further uncertainties, particularly in complex terrain or broken cloud cover scenarios, where satellite cloud data lack the resolution to capture local fluctuations. This study discusses these uncertainties while also highlighting the potential of the generated UV Index maps to provide area-wide information to the population as a valuable complement to ground-based measurements. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-38ddd5defd8a4d4187ae2e05bdc4d4b4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2072-4292 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Remote Sensing |
| spelling | doaj-art-38ddd5defd8a4d4187ae2e05bdc4d4b42025-08-20T02:44:35ZengMDPI AGRemote Sensing2072-42922025-02-0117462910.3390/rs17040629UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH RegionBarbara Klotz0Regine Gradl1Verena Schenzinger2Michael Schwarzmann3Josef Schreder4Sebastian Lorenz5Julian Gröbner6Gregor Hülsen7Axel Kreuter8Institute for Biomedical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute for Biomedical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute for Biomedical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaInstitute for Biomedical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaCMS Ing. Dr. Schreder GmbH, Lofererstrasse 32, 6322 Kirchbichl, AustriaFederal Office for Radiation Protection, Ingolstaedter Landstrasse 1, 85764 Oberschleissheim, GermanyPhysikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos, World Radiation Center, 7260 Davos, SwitzerlandPhysikalisch-Meteorologisches Observatorium Davos, World Radiation Center, 7260 Davos, SwitzerlandInstitute for Biomedical Physics, Medical University Innsbruck, Muellerstrasse 44, 6020 Innsbruck, AustriaThis study introduces a new method for nowcasting UV Index maps developed within the framework of the Austrian Solar UV Measurement Network. While we focus on the DACH region (Germany, Austria, and Switzerland) in this study, the same methods are routinely applied to nowcast UV Index maps for Europe. The primary objective is to improve public health measures by providing timely and area-wide UV Index values. The UV Index maps are based on clear-sky calculations using data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. Cloud effects are integrated using cloud modification factors determined from Meteosat Second Generation satellite imagery. To assess the representativeness of the calculated UV Index maps, the corresponding pixel values are compared to ground-based measurements for the year 2022 at 27 locations in the DACH region. For all sky conditions, the satellite-derived UV Index values are within ±1.0 UV Index of the ground-measured UV Index for at least 91% of the data at stations below 500 m a.s.l. and in flatter landscapes. For high-altitude sites and in more pronounced topographies, the values for U1.0 decrease, with the lowest agreement of 74.8% found for the Sonnblick station located at 3109 m a.s.l. Discrepancies arise due to differences in the measurement methods: ground-based measurements capture the local conditions, while satellite-derived values represent the average values over larger areas. The clear-sky deviations are most pronounced at high-altitude, snow-covered sites due to uncertainties in the surface albedo. Under all sky conditions, cloud variability adds further uncertainties, particularly in complex terrain or broken cloud cover scenarios, where satellite cloud data lack the resolution to capture local fluctuations. This study discusses these uncertainties while also highlighting the potential of the generated UV Index maps to provide area-wide information to the population as a valuable complement to ground-based measurements.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/4/629UV Indexground-based measurementsradiative transfer modelsatellite datacloud modification factorsurface albedo |
| spellingShingle | Barbara Klotz Regine Gradl Verena Schenzinger Michael Schwarzmann Josef Schreder Sebastian Lorenz Julian Gröbner Gregor Hülsen Axel Kreuter UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region Remote Sensing UV Index ground-based measurements radiative transfer model satellite data cloud modification factor surface albedo |
| title | UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region |
| title_full | UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region |
| title_fullStr | UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region |
| title_full_unstemmed | UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region |
| title_short | UV Map Nowcasting and Comparison with Ground-Based UV Measurements for the DACH Region |
| title_sort | uv map nowcasting and comparison with ground based uv measurements for the dach region |
| topic | UV Index ground-based measurements radiative transfer model satellite data cloud modification factor surface albedo |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-4292/17/4/629 |
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