Measurement report: Spectral actinometry at SMEAR-Estonia

Abstract. Systematic spectral measurements of downwelling solar radiation, both of global and diffuse, have been collected in summertime during 8 years in the hemi-boreal zone in south east Estonia near the SMEAR-Estonia research station. The measurements provided information about the variation of spectral and total fluxes of downwelling hemispherical global and diffuse solar radiation in the wavelength range from 300 to 2160 nm with spectral resolution of 3 nm in UV to 16 nm in SWIR spectral regions. Unique data have been collected and quantitative description of the variability of the measured spectra is provided. For the description of the synoptic situation during measurements, instead of cloud cover, the ratio of measured to possible total flux in the spectral range of 320–1800 nm is used. This ratio could be used as the primary meteorological parameter instead of cloud cover which is difficult to measure instrumentally.