LOW COST ULTRAVIOLET SPECTRAL INSTRUMENTATION

HIGH LEVELS OF ULTRAVIOLET (UV) RADIATION ARE KNOWN TO BE RESPONSIBLE FOR BIOLOGICALLY HARMFUL EFFECTS IN PLANTS AND ANIMALS. CONCERN ABOUT INTENSITY OF THE UV RADIATION AT THE SURFACE OF THE EARTH HAS GREATLY INCREASED SINCE THE DISCOVERY OF THE "OZONE HOLE" OVER ANTARCTICA IN 1985. THE TASK OF GEOGRAPHICALLY WIDESPREAD, LONG TERM MONITORING OF UV LEVELS IS CURRENTLY MADE DIFFICULT BY LACK OF SUITABLE INSTRUMENTATION. THE AIM OF THE PROPOSED PROGRAM IS TO DEVELOP A NEW TYPE OF A FIELD INSTRUMENT CAPABLE OF SIMULTANEOUSLY MEASURING SOLAR RADIATION POWER IN SEVERAL NARROW SPECTRAL BANDS, ONE TO SEVERAL NM WIDE. THE PROPOSED INSTRUMENT WILL BE DESIGNED TO SUPPORT THE PRESENT NETWORK INSTRUMENTATION. IT WILL BE A LOW COST DEVICE, PORTABLE, EASY TO OPERATE AND CALIBRATE.