The Air Quality — UV Index indicator shows the daily mean UV Index at the site, measuring the intensity of solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface. The UV Index is an internationally standardised scale developed by the WHO and WMO that accounts for attenuation by stratospheric ozone, cloud cover, aerosols, and altitude.
The scale ranges from 0 (no significant UV radiation, nighttime) to 11+ (extreme UV radiation). Elevated values indicate high UV exposure, which can cause photo-oxidative stress in vegetation (triggering production of flavonoids and anthocyanins as protective responses), DNA damage to exposed organisms, reduced photosynthetic activity, and disruptions to pollinator reproductive cycles.
Data come from the CAMS model (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service) via the Open-Meteo Air Quality API, with 11 km spatial resolution and hourly updates. Daily values are calculated as 24-hour averages. The unit is dimensionless (WHO scale 0--11+).
Data come from the Open-Meteo Air Quality API, based on the CAMS model (Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service). The variable used is uv_index (UV Index accounting for ozone, clouds, and aerosols).
The calculation process follows these steps:
Unit: Dimensionless (WHO UV Index scale 0--11+)
Formula: Daily UV Index = mean of 24 hourly values
| Source | Provider | Coverage | Resolution | Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open-Meteo Air Quality API (CAMS) | Open-Meteo / Copernicus CAMS | Global (Europe: 11 km) | 11 km | 2013 -- present |
Line Chart. A time-series chart showing the daily UV Index over time, with colour-coded quality bands.
Purpose: To show how UV radiation intensity varies day by day at the site, highlighting seasonal peaks and periods of elevated exposure risk for ecosystems and organisms.
Description: The chart is titled "Air quality" with the UV Index measurement type selected from a dropdown that also offers PM10, PM2.5, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, carbon monoxide, and other air quality variables. The X axis shows dates, and the Y axis shows the UV Index value (dimensionless). The chart background is divided into colour bands corresponding to the 5-level quality scale. A resolution toggle allows switching between daily and hourly granularity. A date picker allows selecting a specific date or date range. Summary statistics (Minimum, Average, Maximum) are shown above the chart for the selected period.
How it's calculated: Each point represents the daily mean (or hourly value if hourly resolution is selected) of the UV Index at the site's coordinates, retrieved from the CAMS model via the Open-Meteo API. The UV Index integrates ozone absorption, cloud optical depth, and aerosol loading to produce a single measure of effective UV irradiance at the surface.
Legend: The chart uses a 5-band colour scale for UV Index values:
| Band | Range | Color | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| Good | 0 -- 2.5 | ■ #00A67A | Low UV exposure; minimal risk for ecosystems |
| Fair | 2.5 -- 5.5 | ■ #00DF80 | Moderate UV exposure; normal conditions for most ecosystems |
| Moderate | 5.5 -- 7.5 | ■ #FFD21E | High UV exposure; sensitive species may experience photo-oxidative stress |
| Poor | 7.5 -- 10.5 | ■ #FF8B16 | Very high UV exposure; DNA damage risk and reduced photosynthetic efficiency |
| Very Poor | 10.5 -- 45 | ■ #FF367F | Extreme UV exposure; severe ecological stress and tissue damage |
Interpretation example:
If the chart shows a daily UV Index of 2.1 in winter (green band), the site experiences low UV radiation typical of high-latitude or cloudy conditions. If summer peaks reach 8.5 (orange band), the site faces very high UV exposure that may cause photo-oxidative stress in unshaded vegetation and disrupt pollinator activity during midday hours.
Highlights Table Row. A row in the risk overview table within the Highlights section, showing the air quality status for the site based on UV Index and other pollutant data.
Purpose: To provide a scannable summary of the site's air quality alongside other risk-category KPIs.
Description: The row appears in the "Risk" section of the overview table and is labelled "Air quality". It shows the current status or value for the site. The column shows "N/A" when data have not been generated yet for the site.
How it's calculated: The value reflects the air quality assessment based on UV Index and other pollutant concentrations from the CAMS model, aggregated according to the platform's air quality scoring methodology.
Interpretation example:
If the "Air quality" row shows a green indicator, the site's UV levels (and other pollutants) are within healthy ranges. An orange or red indicator would signal that UV exposure or other pollutant concentrations are at concerning levels for the ecosystem.
WHO (2002). "Global Solar UV Index: A Practical Guide." WHO/SDE/OEH/02.2. World Health Organization, Geneva. https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9241590076
Bais, A.F. et al. (2015). "Ozone depletion and climate change: impacts on UV radiation." Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 14, 19--52. https://doi.org/10.1039/c4pp90032d
Open-Meteo (2024). "Air Quality API Documentation." Available at: https://open-meteo.com/en/docs/air-quality-api
Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). "UV index forecasting." ECMWF. https://atmosphere.copernicus.eu
European Environment Agency (2023). "European Air Quality Index." Available at: https://airindex.eea.europa.eu
See the Calculation Methodology section for the core computation. Additional processing details are documented here for expert users.