Validation of ozone monitoring instrument ultraviolet index against ground-based UV index in Kampala, Uganda

Appl Opt. 2015 Oct 1;54(28):8537-45. doi: 10.1364/AO.54.008537.

Abstract

The Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) overpass solar ultraviolet (UV) indices have been validated against the ground-based UV indices derived from Norwegian Institute for Air Research UV measurements in Kampala (0.31° N, 32.58° E, 1200 m), Uganda for the period between 2005 and 2014. An excessive use of old cars, which would imply a high loading of absorbing aerosols, could cause the OMI retrieval algorithm to overestimate the surface UV irradiances. The UV index values were found to follow a seasonal pattern with maximum values in March and October. Under all-sky conditions, the OMI retrieval algorithm was found to overestimate the UV index values with a mean bias of about 28%. When only days with radiation modification factor greater than or equal to 65%, 70%, 75%, and 80% were considered, the mean bias between ground-based and OMI overpass UV index values was reduced to 8%, 5%, 3%, and 1%, respectively. The overestimation of the UV index by the OMI retrieval algorithm was found to be mainly due to clouds and aerosols.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants / analysis*
  • Algorithms
  • Automobiles
  • Calibration
  • Computer Simulation
  • Environmental Monitoring / methods*
  • Ozone / analysis*
  • Reproducibility of Results
  • Seasons
  • Spacecraft
  • Spectrophotometry, Ultraviolet
  • Sunlight
  • Uganda
  • Ultraviolet Rays*

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Air Pollutants
  • Ozone