The penetration of ultraviolet radiation to the ground

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Abstract
The evolution of analytic formulas for characterizing the ultraviolet spectral ir‐radiance penetrating to the ground is briefly described. Analytic spectral functions for the extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance, the ozone absorption coefficient, Rayleigh scattering coefficients and aerosol scattering and absorption coefficients, which are used as basic inputs, are given. With Beer's law, these give immediately the direct solar spectral irradiance. A ratio technique described in quantitative detail gives a procedure for calculating the skylight component of the UV radiation reaching the ground. The influence of ground reflectivity, clouds and a possible connection between photobiology and radiological physics are discussed. Finally the advantages of multiwavelength monitoring are described, using monochromators similar to those used in satellite ozone sounding to serve the needs of the photobiology and the atmospheric science communities.