Excessive exposure to solar UV radiation has detrimental health effects and is considered the major risk factor for developing skin cancer in Australia.

The UV index (UVI) is a simple measure of erythemal solar UV radiation that informs people when they should protect themselves to reduce overexposure risks (when UVI is 3 or above). The UVI forecast values are the maximum predicted values for clear sky conditions. Measured local UVI values may considerably deviate below or above the predicted values because of the  environmental conditions.

This site provides a number of educational activities based on real-time UV and cloud cover data obtained from the University of Southern Queensland’s (USQ) online solar radiation network. The following activities will expand your knowledge about UV radiation, its units and measurements, how UVI is calculated and the daily factors influencing  solar UV radiation:

About UV: A brief introduction on the nature of UV radiation and its quantities and units, factors Influencing global UV radiation that reaches the earth’s surface, and the effects of exposure to UV radiation on humans.

Real-Time Solar UV Data: Shows the current values of the UV index, erythemal UV exposure, and UVA expsoure.  It also provides the cumulative erythemal UV exposure.

Real-Time Cloud Cover Data: Shows a real-time image of the cloud cover over the University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba. It also provides the processed image and percentage cloud cover.

Cloud Cover vs Solar UV: A real-data based activity shows the effect of clouds on solar UV radiation.

Direct & Diffuse Solar UV: A real-data based activity shows the two components, direct and diffuse, of solar UV radiation and how their relative amounts to global solar UV radiation change depending on solar zenith angle and cloud cover.

UV & Vitamin D: A real-data based activity shows the exposure time required for adequate vitamin D production and how this time differs according to solar zenith angle and cloud cover.

UV & U: Design an avatar and explore the factors controlling personal exposure to solar UV radiation and some simple measures to reduce it.

The development of this website was supported by the auDA Foundation, grant no. 14070.