Statistical analysis and inter-comparison of the solar UVB, UVA and global radiation for Beer Sheva and Neve Zohar (Dead Sea), Israel

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A statistical analysis and inter-comparison of the solar UVB, UVA and global radiation for Beer Sheva and Neve Zohar (Dead Sea) are presented utilizing data measured from January 1995 through December 2002. Beer Sheva is located approximately 65 km to the west of and ∼700 m above Neve Zohar. The monthly average hourly and daily values for all radiation types at both sites are reported. The standard errors of the monthly average daily values have been calculated in order to ascertain whether the average daily radiation intensities are representative, i.e. if the magnitude of the standard error is less than the inherent measurement uncertainty of the instruments, and, thereby, justify an inter-comparison between the two sites. The relative magnitude of the global, UVB and UVA radiation intensity at the two sites is attributed to the enhanced scattering of the incident solar radiation at the Dead Sea location due to the longer optical path length it must traverse to arrive at the Dead Sea, the lowest terrestrial point on earth. The degree of attenuation of solar radiation due to the scattering phenomena is inversely proportional to the wavelength raised to some power and, consequently, it is greatest for UVB and negligible for global radiation.