Variability of spectral solar ultraviolet irradiance in an Alpine environment

Seven spectroradiorneters measured simultaneous surface UV irradiances at six different sites in the vicinity of Garmisch‐Partenkirchen, Germany, during spring 1999. The measured clear‐sky irradiance variability between the sites was analyzed with respect to altitude, aerosol optical depth, solar zenith angle, effective albedo, and tropospheric ozone. For conditions of low aerosol loading the increase of irradiance per 1000 m altitude difference was 9% at 400 nm. 20% at 320 nm, and 30% at 300 nm in this season. Effective albedo differences of 0.15, 0.29, and 0.65 were found between the snow‐covered stations and the snow‐free ground station with the higher effective albedo values determined at the two mountain stations. Clean continental aerosols with a single‐scatter albedo of 0.95 were observed during this campaign. The measurements and the observed variations between the sites should enable more accurate modeling studies to be performed for an Alpine environment.