南极中山站太阳紫外辐射测值比较

比较分析了2017年南极中山站3种仪器测量地面太阳紫外B（UVB）波段和紫外A（UVA）波段的辐照度。以Brewer光谱仪测值为参考,国产宽波段FSUVB日射表在UVB（波段280~315 nm）的辐照度相对误差为（55±75）%,误差随大气臭氧总量的增加呈上升趋势,但在南极“臭氧洞”期间偏低。Yankee UVB宽波段日射表在UVB（波段280~320 nm）的辐照度相对误差为（-31±22）%;国产宽波段FSUVA日射表在UVA（波段315~400 nm）的辐照度相对误差为（23±5.9）%。太阳天顶角低于80°的晴天以Tropospheric Ultraviolet Visible（TUV）辐射模式计算结果为参考时,FSUVB,Yankee UVB和FSUVA辐照度的平均相对误差分别为（30±37）%,（-22±19）%和（27±6.4）%,而Brewer相对误差未超过3.5%。国产宽波段UV日射表测值偏高,反映出波长较长的杂散光对太阳辐照度测值影响明显。     

Spectral dependence on the correction factor of erythemal UV for cloud,aerosol, total ozone,and surface properties: A modeling study

Radiative transfer model simulations were used to investigate the erythemal ultraviolet(EUV) correction factors by separating the UV-A and UV-B spectral ranges. The correction factor was defined as the ratio of EUV caused by changing the amounts and characteristics of the extinction and scattering materials. The EUV correction factors(CFEUV) for UV-A[CFEUV(A)] and UV-B [CFEUV(B)] were affected by changes in the total ozone, optical depths of aerosol and cloud, and the solar zenith angle. The differences between CFEUV(A) and CFEUV(B) were also estimated as a function of solar zenith angle, the optical depths of aerosol and cloud, and total ozone. The differences between CFEUV(A) and CFEUV(B) ranged from-5.0% to 25.0% for aerosols, and from-9.5% to 2.0% for clouds in all simulations for different solar zenith angles and optical depths of aerosol and cloud. The rate of decline of CFEUV per unit optical depth between UV-A and UV-B differed by up to 20% for the same aerosol and cloud conditions. For total ozone, the variation in CFEUV(A) was negligible compared with that in CFEUV(B) because of the effective spectral range of the ozone absorption band. In addition, the sensitivity of the CFEUVs due to changes in surface conditions(i.e., surface albedo and surface altitude) was also estimated by using the model in this study. For changes in surface albedo, the sensitivity of the CFEUVs was 2.9%–4.1% per 0.1 albedo change,depending on the amount of aerosols or clouds. For changes in surface altitude, the sensitivity of CFEUV(B) was twice that of CFEUV(A), because the Rayleigh optical depth increased significantly at shorter wavelengths.     

Influence of natural and anthropogenic activities on UV Index variations – a study over tropical urban region using ground based observations and satellite data

Measurements of total ozone column and solar UV radiation under different atmospheric conditions are needed to define variations of both UV and ozone and to study the impact of ozone depletion at the Earth’s surface. In this study, spectral and broadband measurements of UV-B irradiance were obtained along with total ozone observations and aerosol optical depth measurements in the tropical urban region of Hyderabad, south India. We specifically used an Ultra-Violet Multifilter Rotating Shadow band Radiometer (UVMFR-SR), to measure UV irradiance in time and space. To assess the aerosol and O₃ effects on ground-reaching UV irradiance, we used measurements from a Microtops II sun photometer in addition to the Tropospheric Ultraviolet Visible radiation (TUV) model. We also assessed the Defense Meteorological Satellite Program – Operational Line Scanner (DMSP-OLS) night time satellite data for inferring biomass burning fires during the study period. Results clearly suggested a negative correlation between the DMSP-OLS satellite derived fire count data and UVMFR-SR data suggesting that aerosols from biomass burning are directly attenuating UV irradiance in the study region. Also, correlation analysis between UV index and ozone measurements from sun photometer and TOMS-Ozone Mapping Instrument (OMI) indicated a clear decrease in ground reaching UV-B irradiance during higher ozone conditions. The higher levels are attributed to photochemical production of O₃ during the oxidation of trace gases emitted from biomass burning. Results also suggested a relatively high attenuation in UV irradiance (~6% higher) from smoke particles than dust. We also found a relatively good agreement between the modeled (TUV) and measured UV irradiance spectra for different atmospheric conditions. Our results highlight the factors affecting UV irradiance in a tropical urban environment, south India.     

Concentration of Stratospheric Ozone Derived from Lidar,Satellite, and Surface Observations

Data of stratospheric ozone measurements with the AK-3 lidar over Obninsk in 2012–2015 are compared with Aura/MLS and Aura/OMI satellite data and parallel surface observations of total ozone (TO) with the Brewer spectrophotometer. The maximum difference in mean ozone concentration between the lidar and Aura/MLS data in the altitude range of 13 to 32 km does not exceed 0.2 x 10¹² mol./cm³ (or the maximum of 9% at the altitude of 13 km). At the same time, Aura/OMI data have a positive bias of about 20% relative to lidar data in the range of 13 to 20 km that is associated with OMI measurement errors according to literature data. Total ozone values calculated from lidar measurements jointly with the known climatology data are compared with those measured with the Brewer spectrophotometer. It is demonstrated that the correlation between the results of measurements obtained by two methods is close to linear, and the mean relative difference in the overall measurement range does not exceed 5%.     

Solar ultraviolet absorption by sulphur dioxide in Thessaloniki,Greece

Abstract

This work presents the climatology of the sulphur dioxide column over Thessaloniki derived from three years of observation with the Brewer spectrophotometer. The SO₂ column averages 2.5 m atm‐cm and the shielding of UV‐B by SO₂ is investigated and compared with the changes in shielding resulting from an anticipated ozone reduction. Columnar and surface SO₂ concentrations over Thessaloniki appear to be typical of those in major industrial‐urban regions of the world. It is concluded that, for urban regions, predictions of changes in UV‐B as a result of man's activities must consider projections of changes in the SO₂ column as well as ozone.     

Measurements of stratospheric ozone at a mid-latitude observing station Valentia, Ireland (51.94° N, 10.25° W), using ground-based and ozonesonde observations from 1994 to 2009

Sixteen years (1994 – 2009) of ozone profiling by ozonesondes at Valentia Meteorological and Geophysical Observatory, Ireland (51.94^° N, 10.23^° W) along with a co-located MkIV Brewer spectrophotometer for the period 1993–2009 are analyzed. Simple and multiple linear regression methods are used to infer the recent trend, if any, in stratospheric column ozone over the station. The decadal trend from 1994 to 2010 is also calculated from the monthly mean data of Brewer and column ozone data derived from satellite observations. Both of these show a 1.5 % increase per decade during this period with an uncertainty of about ±0.25 %. Monthly mean data for March show a much stronger trend of?~?4.8 % increase per decade for both ozonesonde and Brewer data. The ozone profile is divided between three vertical slots of 0–15 km, 15–26 km, and 26 km to the top of the atmosphere and a 11-year running average is calculated. Ozone values for the month of March only are observed to increase at each level with a maximum change of +9.2?±?3.2 % per decade (between years 1994 and 2009) being observed in the vertical region from 15 to 26 km. In the tropospheric region from 0 to 15 km, the trend is positive but with a poor statistical significance. However, for the top level of above 26 km the trend is significantly positive at about 4 % per decade. The March integrated ozonesonde column ozone during this period is found to increase at a rate of ~6.6 % per decade compared with the Brewer and satellite positive trends of ~5 % per decade.     

Analysis of UVB values in the centre of the Iberian Peninsula

Records of UV data started in Madrid at the beginning of the 90's decade. After some quality control on the data a seven year period from 1996 to 2002 was selected to perform an analysis of daily and seasonal variability of solar ultraviolet B (UVB) values at the centre of the Iberian Peninsula. Instruments used are a Brewer MKIV spectrophotometer and a YES UVB-1 broadband pyranometer. Both instruments provided integrated daily values according with the Diffey spectrum although they have different measurement procedures. Data statistics from each instrument for the same period and statistical relationships between daily values from both instruments are shown. As broadband YES provided a record with fewer time gaps, analysis of UVI extreme values is performed using that instrument. The relationship between UVB values with ozone, cloudiness and visible radiation has been described in several papers for different places in the world. In this paper, those relationships are shown for Madrid. A discussion about specific problems found when trying to isolate every effective factor is also included. Some of those relationships could be helpful to retrieve UVB values from other ancillary data as visible radiation and cloudiness. Finally, a detailed study for 10 days in June 1997 when the maximum record of daily values from the present time series was obtained, highlight the close correlation between total ozone content and the daily variability of UVB for similar amounts of incoming radiation.     

广州地区太阳分光辐射的某些变化特征

利用广州地区1985—1990年的太阳分光辐射的连续观测资料（观测角度为23°11′），研究了广州地区紫外辐射、可见光辐射（光合有效辐射）、近红外辐射的某些特征。结果指出，每年7—10月份各分光辐射及总辐射总量较大。月总辐射中可见光辐射占总辐射的百分比年平均为47.3%，相应的紫外辐射和近红外辐射分别占7.1%和45.6%。文中还分析了晴天条件下分光辐射的变化和1990年紫外辐射变化的某些特征，并分析和讨论了分光辐射与云量、日照时间等因子的相关。     

Measurements of chemically and biologically effective radiation reaching the ground

Solar ultraviolet radiation at the surface has been measured at Potsdam on cloudless days by spectrometer OL 752/10. The measurements are compared with broad-band filter measurements and with model calculations using a modified version of Green's model, which is independent of the measurements. Input data to the model such as atmospheric ozone and aerosol optical thicknesses were measured by a Dobson and Brewer spectrophotometer as well as a Linke Feussner pyrheliometer, respectively. Differences between the model and the measurements are discussed in terms of uncertainties in the calibration and errors of instruments as well as uncertainties in the model calculations including the errors of input data. It is demonstrated that different chemically and biologically effective radiances can be determined from only one set of measured spectral irradiance components, i.e. global radiation and diffuse downward and upward directed radiation. Examples of diurnal variations of the photochemical production of ozone and hydroxyl radicals as determined from spectral irradiance measurements and measured concentrations of relevant trace gases are given.It is shown from the measured irradiance that relations between different effects of radiation to the biosphere depend on solar zenith angle, and to a certain extent also on atmospheric ozone. This has to be taken into account when adverse effects of changing UV radiation are evaluated. Radiation Amplification Factors derived from measurements correspond to those determined from model calculations.     

Metoz: Total ozone from meteorological parameters

Abstract

On the basis of two well‐known ozone‐weather relationships, an algorithm is proposed that estimates total ozone amounts using readily available meteorological information. The technique has been labelled METOZ from Meteorological Total Ozone. A rationale and derivation of the technique is presented.

METOZ total ozone amounts were generated for Toronto and Edmonton locations and compared with ground‐based Brewer spectrophotometer measures for these two stations in the Canadian ozone monitoring network for data from January to April 1989. Per cent differences between METOZ and Brewer total ozone measurements were calculated and are presented.

This mid‐latitude wînter metoz algorithm was also used to produce a hemispherical total ozone field for 16 March 1986, which was compared with the corresponding TOMS data to demonstrate other potential applications of the technique.     

The Effect of Three Different Absorption Cross-Sections and their Temperature Dependence on Total Ozone Measured by a Mid-Latitude Brewer Spectrophotometer

Abstract

The influence of variations in atmospheric temperature and ozone profiles on the total ozone column (TOC) derived from a Brewer MKII spectrophotometer operating in Thessaloniki, Greece, is investigated using three different sets of ozone absorption cross-sections. The standard Brewer total ozone retrieval algorithm uses the Bass and Paur (1985) cross-sections without accounting for the temperature dependence of the ozone cross-sections which produces a seasonally dependent bias in the measured TOC. The magnitude of this temperature effect depends on the altitude where the bulk of the ozone absorption occurs. Radiosonde measurements for the period 2000 to 2010 combined with climatological ozone profiles were used to calculate the effective temperature of ozone absorption and investigate its effect on the retrieved ozone column. Three different ozone absorption cross-section spectra convolved with the instrument's slit function were used: those of Bass and Paur (hereafter BP), currently used in the standard Brewer retrieval algorithm; those of Brion, Daumont, and Malicet (Malicet et al., 1985; hereafter BDM); and the recently published set by Serdyuchenko et al. (2013 hereafter S13). The temperature dependence of the differential ozone absorption coefficient ranges between 0.09 and 0.13% per degree Celsius for BP, between ?0.11 and ?0.06% per degree Celsius for BDM, and between 0.018 to 0.022% per degree Celsius for S13, resulting in a seasonal bias in the derived TOC of up to 2%, 1.8%, and 0.4%, respectively. The temperature sensitivity of the differential ozone absorption coefficient for the Brewer spectrophotometer at Thessaloniki for the BP and BDM cross-sections is found to be within the range reported for other Brewer instruments in earlier studies, whereas the seasonal bias in TOC is minimized when using the new S13 cross-sections because of their small temperature dependence.     

西藏当雄地基紫外线指数观测研究

基于西藏当雄2009年9月—2011年8月地基紫外线指数 (UVI) 观测,结合TUV辐射传输模式分析, 该文检验太阳天顶角、云、臭氧、积雪和气溶胶对UVI的影响。结果显示,影响地面UVI主要因素是太阳天顶角和云。晴天地面UVI可简单用太阳天顶角拟合函数表征;地面UVI的云调制因子总体上随云量增加呈下降趋势,但间隙性、未遮蔽日面的云可增强太阳散射辐射,使云调制因子值平均增加约3%~6%,个别情形达40%。臭氧低谷使当雄UVI比同纬度平原地区增加约12%;冬季短期、浅层积雪使UVI增加16%或更低,也低于模式模拟值 (23%);气溶胶 (光学厚度为0.02~0.1) 对UVI衰减低于3%。因臭氧低谷导致青藏高原臭氧南北分布的差异,相同太阳天顶角下拉萨 (海拔为3650 m) UVI较瓦里关 (海拔为3810 m) 偏高7%~10%。与卫星产品比较表明:OMI卫星UVI产品在当雄、沱沱河、瓦里关和拉萨较地基测值总体偏高65%以上,而晴天则平均分别偏高8.6%,13%,9%和50%。云、地基与卫星像元地理位置差异应是卫星UVI产品偏高的原因。当雄地基UVI测值大于14时,卫星UVI产品反而低3%应与间隙性云有效增强了地面辐射有关。     

Recalibration of the hohenpeissenberg dobson spectrophotometer 104 presuming ‘effective absorption coefficients’

The well calibrated Brewer spectrophotometer 17 (Sci-Tec Instruments Inc., Canada) stayed at the Meteorological Observatory Hohenpeissenberg (MOHP) from August 27 until September 1, 1984, in order to check and recalibrate Brewer 10, which had some stability problems. Brewer 17 was initially calibrated in July 1983, the validity of this calibration was repeatedly verified before and after the stay at the MOHP (Kerr et al., 1985; Kerr, 1984). The instrument proved itself to be very stable and appropriate as travellings standard instrument.As Dobson 104 didn't seem to be well calibrated at that time, the occasion was taken to perform also a Dobson recalibration. The methods normally used were not satisfactory, but a different method, presuming Effective Absorption Coefficients (EAC), presented by Kerr et al. at the Quadrennial Ozone Symposium 1984 in Greece, yielded encouraging results. Before recalibration Dobson 104 showed a difference of 2–3% in comparison to Brewer 10-, Brewer 17- and TOMS- (on satellite Nimbus 7) measurements, whereas the agreement with the Brewers after EAC-calibration was good (X _rel < 1%). The different Dobson calibration methods are compared and the results of the Dobson 104 and Brewer 10 recalibrations are presented.

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Zusammenfassung Vom 27. August bis 1. September 1984 befand sich das Brewer Standard Spektrophotometer 17 (Sci-Tec Instruments Inc., Canada) am Meteorologischen Observatorium Hohenpeißenberg (MOHP), um den nicht sehr stabilen Brewer 10 zu überprüfen und neu zu kalibrieren. Der Brewer 17 wurde erstmals im Juli 1983 kalibriert, die Gültigkeit dieser Eichung wurde mehrfach vor und einmal nach dem Aufenthalt am MOHP bestätigt (Kerr et al., 1985; Kerr, 1984). Das Instrument erwies sich als sehr stabil und geeignet als transportables Standardinstrument.Da der Dobson 104 zum damaligen Zeipunkt ebenfalls nicht gut kalibriert schien, wurde die Gelegenheit einer Dobson-Neukalibrierung wahrgenommen. Die normalerweise benutzten Methoden waren nicht zufriedenstellend im Gegensatz zu einer Methode, die von Effektiven Absorption Coeffizienten (EAC) ausgeht. Diese von Kerr et al. auf dem Quadrennial Ozon Symposium 1984 in Griechenland vorgestellte Methode lieferte hier ermutigende Ergebnisse. Vor der Neueichung zeigte der Dobson 104 eine Differenz von etwa 2–3% im Vergleich mit Brewer 10-, Brewer 17- und TOMS- (auf dem Nimbus-7-Satelliten) Messungen, während die Übereinstimmung mit den Brewer-Geräten nach der EAC-Kalibrierung gut war (X _rel < 1%). Die verschiedenen Dobson-Kalibrierungsmethoden werden verglichen und Ergebnisse der Dobson 104- und Brewer 10-Neukalibrierungen werden vorgestellt.

     

Compensating for the Effects of Stray Light in Single-Monochromator Brewer Spectrophotometer Ozone Retrieval

Abstract

Spectrometers are designed to isolate particular wavebands and suppress light from wavelengths outside the band of interest. However, a small amount of undesired light will always enter the detector, not through the designed optical path, but through random scattering from the instrument optical components, housing, and dust particles. Every spectrophotometer has stray light coming from outside the nominal measurement waveband. For Dobson spectrophotometers and single monochromator Brewer spectrophotometers, which are basic instruments in the World Meteorological Organization (WMO) ozone and ultraviolet (UV) monitoring network, the error introduced by stray light is substantial when the ozone slant path becomes very large because of high solar zenith angles and a thick ozone layer. These are common conditions during Arctic spring. To study the issue, a long ozone slant path Intercomparison/Calibration campaign for Nordic Brewers and Dobsons was held at Sodankylä 8–24 March 2011 and a follow-up campaign to extend calibrations to shorter ozone slant paths took place at Izaña observatory, Tenerife, between 28 October and 18 November 2011. These campaigns were part of the Committee on Earth Observation Satellites (CEOS) Intercalibration of Ground-based Spectrometers and Lidars project funded by the European Space Agency (ESA), intended to permit the homogenization of ozone data from the European ozone ground-truthing network. During the active intercomparison periods, measurements were taken only when good conditions for sun or moon observations existed. Laboratory measurements using calibration lamps and helium-cadmium (HeCd) lasers were an essential part of both campaigns. The campaigns produced a high-quality database of total ozone and UV measurements and an accurate, up-to-date calibration and characterization of participating Brewers and Dobsons against the European standard instruments from the Regional Dobson Calibration Centre-Europe (RDCC-E) and the Regional Brewer Calibration Centre-Europe (RBCC-E). In the present work we focus on single monochromator Brewers and present a physics-based method to compensate for the stray-light effects in ozone retrieval using laboratory characterizations and radiative transfer modelling. The method was tested with independent data from the campaign.     

Brewer spectrophotometer total ozone measurements made during the 1998 Middle Atmosphere Nitrogen Trend Assessment (MANTRA) campaign

Abstract

Column ozone data collected using a Brewer spectrophotometer at Vanscoy, Saskatchewan during the Middle Atmosphere Nitrogen Trend Assessment (MANTRA) balloon campaign (Strong, this issue) were reduced using an improved analysis algorithm. The retrieved total ozone values are compared with those from other instruments and good agreement was found. The aerosol optical depth has also been calculated using the same set of data and the results are presented. Periods of an increased aerosol optical depth coincide with periods when plumes of smoke from nearby forest fires reached the campaign site.     

Assessment of Erythemal UV Level in Nepal Based on Solar UV Estimates from Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer

Nepal lies on the southern slope of Himalaya in Asia. In a width ranging between 150 and 250 km, the altitude varies greatly from about 100 m at its southern border to a maximum of 8848 min the northern part. Like the variation in altitude, climatic condition varies quite a lot. Long-term monthly mean erythemal UV daily dose values for Nepal are evaluated using Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) estimation from the time of its overpass between 1996 and 2003. The results are presented as summer and winter maps of mean UV levels in each satellite grid. The mean winter erythemal UV daily dose ranges between 2.1 and 3.6 kJ m-2 whereas summer values are found to lie between 4.6 and 9.7 kJ m-2. The altitude variation increases the UV levels by about 0.2 kJ km-1 in winter months, and 0.9 kJ km-1 in summer. A multiyear monthly average erythemal daily dose in most of the areas shows that the summer value is about three times higher than that in winter. Although year-to-year variation is not pronounced in high- and mid-elevation regions, UV levels seemed to decrease from 1997 to 2002 in the southern part of the country in the low elevation region by about 5.35%. Due to the combined effects of the altitude, low ozone concentration in the troposphere, and thin air, surface UV radiation at higher altitudes is found to be higher than in the surrounding regions.     

太阳紫外线辐射及其生物效应

紫外（UV）辐射在太阳幅射光谱中的谱区范围是在100－400nm间，其能量仅占太阳辐射总量的8％，按照不同波长线所起的生物作用，可分为三部分，紫外线A段（UV－A），波长320－400nm，约占太阳辐射总量的6％，这部分生物作用较弱，主要是色素沉着作用，紫外线B段（UV-B），波长290－320nm，约占太阳辐射总量的1．5％，此段对人体影响较大，主要作用是抗佝偻病和红斑作用，是引起民皮肤癌，白内障，免疫系统能力下降的主要原因之一，紫外线C段（UV－C），波长100－290nm，约占太阳辐射总量的0．5％，由于几乎完全被臭氧层吸收而不能达到地面，以人工发生的紫外线灯进行实验，这段紫外线具有最大杀菌力，对机体细胞也有强烈的刺激破坏作用。     

Evaluating observed and projected future climate changes for the Arctic using the K?ppen-Trewartha climate classification

The ecosystems in the Arctic region are known to be very sensitive to climate changes. The accelerated warming for the past several decades has profoundly influenced the lives of the native populations and ecosystems in the Arctic. Given that the K?ppen-Trewartha (K-T) climate classification is based on reliable variations of land-surface types (especially vegetation), this study used the K-T scheme to evaluate climate changes and their impact on vegetation for the Arctic (north of 50°N) by analyzing observations as well as model simulations for the period 1900–2099. The models include 16 fully coupled global climate models from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Fourth Assessment. By the end of this century, the annual-mean surface temperature averaged over Arctic land regions is projected to increase by 3.1, 4.6 and 5.3°C under the Special Report on Emissions Scenario (SRES) B1, A1b, and A2 emission scenarios, respectively. Increasing temperature favors a northward expansion of temperate climate (i.e., Dc and Do in the K-T classification) and boreal oceanic climate (i.e., Eo) types into areas previously covered by boreal continental climate (i.e., Ec) and tundra; and tundra into areas occupied by permanent ice. The tundra region is projected to shrink by ?1.86?×?10⁶?km² (?33.0%) in B1, ?2.4?×?10⁶?km² (?42.6%) in A1b, and ?2.5?×?10⁶?km² (?44.2%) in A2 scenarios by the end of this century. The Ec climate type retreats at least 5° poleward of its present location, resulting in ?18.9, ?30.2, and ?37.1% declines in areal coverage under the B1, A1b and A2 scenarios, respectively. The temperate climate types (Dc and Do) advance and take over the area previously covered by Ec. The area covered by Dc climate expands by 4.61?×?10⁶?km² (84.6%) in B1, 6.88?×?10⁶?km² (126.4%) in A1b, and 8.16?×?10⁶?km² (149.6%) in A2 scenarios. The projected redistributions of K-T climate types also differ regionally. In northern Europe and Alaska, the warming may cause more rapid expansion of temperate climate types. Overall, the climate types in 25, 39.1, and 45% of the entire Arctic region are projected to change by the end of this century under the B1, A1b, and A2 scenarios, respectively. Because the K-T climate classification was constructed on the basis of vegetation types, and each K-T climate type is closely associated with certain prevalent vegetation species, the projected large shift in climate types suggests extensive broad-scale redistribution of prevalent ecoregions in the Arctic.     

The characteristics of ultraviolet radiation in arid and semi-arid regions of China

Measurements of the broadband global solar radiation (R _S) and total ultraviolet radiation (the sum of UV-A and UV-B) were conducted from 2005 to 2010 at 9 sites in arid and semi-arid regions of China. These data were used to determine the temporal variability of UV and UV/R _S and their dependence on the water vapor content and clearness index. The dependence of UV/R _S on aerosol optical depth (AOD) and water vapor content was also investigated. In addition, a simple and efficient empirically model suited for all-weather conditions was developed to estimate UV from R _s. The annual average daily UV level in arid and semi-arid areas is 0.61 and 0.59 MJ m^?2 d^?1, respectively. The highest value (0.66?±?0.25 MJ m^?2 d^?1) was recorded at an arid area at Linze. The lowest value (0.53?±?0.22 MJ m^?2 d^?1) was recorded at a semi-arid area at Ansai. The highest daily value of UV radiation was measured in May, whereas the lowest value was measured in December. The monthly variation of the UV/R _s ratio ranged from 0.41 in Aksu to 0.35 in Qira. The monthly mean value of UV/R _s gradually increased from November and then decreased in August. A small decreasing trend of UV/R _s was observed in the arid and semi-arid regions due to recently increasing amounts of fine aerosol. A simple and efficient empirically model suit for all-weather condition was developed to estimate UV from R _s. The slope a and intercept b of the regression line between the estimated and measured values were close to 1 and zero, respectively. The relative error between the estimated and measured values was less than 11.5%. Application of the model to data collected from different locations in this region also resulted in reasonable estimates of UV.