Spectrometers: Operational Errors and Uncertainties

Abstract

The increasing international interest on solar ultraviolet radiation during the last decade stimulated large research activities about the methods and the instrumentation used to measure the solar irradiance in this spectral region. Spectroradiometers capable in recording the spectrum of the global solar UV irradiance reaching the earth’s surface have been recently deployed at various locations over the globe. The quality of the data provided by the existing instruments is constantly improving year-by-year and most of them are now capable to conduct measurements with an accuracy of about ±5%. However, the need for more reliable measurements, with an objective to achieve even ±1% accuracy, resulted in continuous efforts to reduce the errors and the uncertainties associated with the measurements of solar ultraviolet radiation.