Arbeitsgruppe für Atmosphärische Strahlung
und Satellitenmeteorologie 
Phone: +49/89/2394 4365, Fax: +49/89/2394 4381

COST Action 713 UV-B Forecasting

The main objective of the action is to standardize the methodologies for UVB forecasting in Europe, which will be used for public information and awareness. To derive the UV-B forecasts it is required to forecast first the total ozone and cloud cover over the area of interest, and if possible other parameters that are capable in modifying the solar radiation. Then these parameters can be used to feed radiative transfer models that will provide the UVB estimates.

Member states of COST Action 713 are (01.01.2000) Austria, Belgium, Czech Republik, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Poland, Portugal, Spain and Switzerland.

You will find more information on the webpage of COST Action 713

Four working groups are formed:
WG1: Data collection (Animator: Dr. Hugo De Backer)
WG2: Modeling of inputy parameters over Europa (Animator: Dr. Alkis Bais)
WG3: Radiation modeling (Animator: Dr. Peter Koepke)
WG4: Dissemination of products (Animator: Dr. Karel Vanicek)

In WG3 was made a comparison of numerical models which are in use for calculation of UV Index. The results are published in Photochemistry and Photobiology (1998) 67 (6) 657-662.