Air Quality — UV Index

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Responsible:Niccolò Calandri

Air Quality — UV Index

Overview

The Air Quality — UV Index indicator shows the daily mean UV index, measuring the intensity of solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the Earth's surface. The UV index is an internationally standardised scale (WHO/WMO) that accounts for attenuation by stratospheric ozone, cloud cover, aerosols, and altitude.

The scale ranges from 0 (no significant UV radiation, night) to 11+ (extreme UV radiation). High values indicate high UV exposure, which can cause photo-oxidative stress in vegetation, DNA damage in exposed organisms, reduced photosynthetic activity, and altered reproductive cycles in pollinators.

Calculation Methodology

Data come from the Open-Meteo Air Quality API (CAMS model). The variable used is uv_index (UV index considering ozone, clouds, and aerosols). For each day, the average of hourly values is calculated.

Data Sources

Code	Name	Provider	Type	Coverage	Availability
`WRD_OPNAQ_99`	Open-Meteo Air Quality API	Open-Meteo / CAMS	db	Global (Europe: 11 km)	From 2013 to present

References

WHO (2002). "Global Solar UV Index: A Practical Guide". WHO/SDE/OEH/02.2.
Bais, A.F. et al. (2015). Photochemical & Photobiological Sciences, 14, 19-52.
Open-Meteo Air Quality API

Data Sources & References

Sources

WRD_OPNAQ_99

Methodology

Average daily UV index, considering ozone, clouds, and aerosols. Open-Meteo variable: uv_index. Daily average of hourly values. Source: Open-Meteo Air Quality API (CAMS). Unit: dimensionless (scale 0-11+).