Author Topic: Solar radiation question  (Read 1655 times)

0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic.

Offline Weatherstation Bruges BE

  • Weatherstation Brugge - Bruges
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 31
    • Weerstation Brugge
Solar radiation question
« on: April 28, 2014, 12:27:48 PM »
Hi
I have a weatherstation with UV sensor. (Oregon Scientific WMR200)
I run VWS and have the steel gauges on my site.
have a look at: http://www.weathercam.be/noflash.html
The UV-index is shown but Solar radiation always remains zero.
Doesn't VWS calculate the Solar radiation from the UV index data? If yes...why is it allways zero?
Can anyone help me with this?
(Sorry for my poor knowledge of English,  :oops: )
greetings from Bruges (Be)
Marc

Offline 92merc

  • BismarckWeather.net
  • Forecaster
  • *****
  • Posts: 1314
  • BismarckWeather.net
    • BismarckWeather.net
Re: Solar radiation question
« Reply #1 on: April 28, 2014, 12:44:30 PM »
I'm not familiar with the Oregon weather station, but I have a Davis station.

My station requires separate sensors for UV and Radiation.  I've had my sensors for a little over a year now.

While UV and solar radiation move up about the same time, they are different measurements.  So one sensor can't do both, unless they built it that way.

I've noticed on overcast days, my UV still went up even the the solar radiation didn't.  And on some high solar radiation days, my UV may not be as high.

The solar radiation is measuring the amount of energy from the sun that is reaching the ground.  Think of this number like a solar panel.  The more watts per a square meter making it to the ground, the more energy the solar panel would make.

But UV is a specific spectrum range.  Main reason for monitoring this measurement is to see how easily our skin will burn if unprotected.

So I'm guessing you'd need another sensor on your station to get both readings.
https://www.BismarckWeather.net
Davis VP2, Cumulus, WeatherDisplay, Blitzortung, Saratoga Scripts, NOAA Stream via PI

Offline Weatherstation Bruges BE

  • Weatherstation Brugge - Bruges
  • Member
  • *
  • Posts: 31
    • Weerstation Brugge
Re: Solar radiation question
« Reply #2 on: April 28, 2014, 02:52:13 PM »
Hi
thanks for your explanation.
Oregon Scientific WMR200 only uses 1 UV sensor for UV index.
I guess Solar radiation on VWS only works with separate sensor indeed. (Davies or WeatherHawk)
« Last Edit: April 28, 2014, 03:26:05 PM by weathercam »