Influence of ground reflectivity and topography on erythemal UV radiation on inclined planes

Abstract

Erythemal UV irradiance incident on a horizontal surface is not always the best way of estimating the real dose received by humans or animals. For this purpose knowledge of the irradiance incident on inclined planes is required. This study presents a physically accurate model for the calculation of erythemal UV on inclined planes. The influence of ground reflectivity and topography on erythemal UV on inclined planes is investigated as a function of solar zenith and azimuth angle. It is shown that including directional reflectivity does not substantially change the incident dose on inclined planes, the maximum deviation being 10%. The incident erythemal UV may, however, be much more influenced by the surrounding topography and by the direct/diffuse partitioning of the irradiance (which is a function of altitude). Maximum increases in erythemal UV of +57%, compared with the incident erythemal UV on a horizontal plane, were found when the sensor faced the sun with a mountain slope to the left and right of it and for very high altitudes.