Dosimetric and spectroradiometric investigations of glass-filtered solar UV

Abstract

The aims of this paper were to investigate how glass filtered UV irradiances vary with glass thickness, lamination of the glass and the effect of SZA, and to measure the glass filtered UV exposures to different receiving planes with a newly developed UVA dosimeter. Spectroradiometric and dosimetric techniques were employed in the experimental approach. The percentage of the glass filtered solar UV compared to the unfiltered UV ranged from 59% to 70% and was influenced to a small extent by the glass thickness and the solar zenith angle (SZA). The laminated glass transmitted 11 to 12% and the windscreen glass transmitted 2.5 to 2.6%. The influence of the SZA was less for the thicker glass than it was for the thinner glass. The change in transmission was less than 14% for the SZA between 48 and 71 degrees. There was negligible influence due to the SZA on the glass transmitted UV of the laminated and windscreen glass. The influence of the glass thickness in the range of 2 mm to 6 mm on the percentage transmission was less than 16%. The influences of the glass thickness and the SZA on the glass transmitted UV have been incorporated in the use of a UVA dosimeter for the glass transmitted UV exposures. The UVA dosimeter was employed in the field to measure the glass filtered UV exposures to different receiving planes. The UVA dosimeter reported has the potential for personal solar UVA exposure measurements.