<title>Worldwide forecast of the biologically effective UV radiation: UV index and daily dose</title>

Abstract

Since October 1995 a global daily forecast of the UV index and the daily dose, as the irradiance of the biologically effective ultraviolet radiation, for clear sky is calculated. The Austrian model as well as the input parameters are described. By connecting the daily dose with the sensitivity of the photobiological skin types, a recommendation is given to select an appropriate sun protection factor of a sunscreen to avoid overexposure of the skin. The validation of the Austrian forecast model is done by long-term measurements of the biologically effective ultraviolet radiation. Measurements were taken from 6 different sites at 4 continents (Antarctica, Australia, America and Europe) covering the latitudinal range from 67 degree(s)N to 60 degree(s)S. By using the underestimation as criteria in the sense of radiation protection, the Austrian model shows less than 12% underestimation over the whole period for the UV index and less than 10% for the daily dose. The evaluation shows further that the forecast of the daily dose is much more influenced by the attenuation due to clouds than the UV index.