Günther Schauberger

Comparison of Models Used for UV Index Calculations

Eighteen radiative transfer models in use for calculation of UV index are compared with respect to their results for more than 100 cloud‐free atmospheres, which describe present, possible future and extreme conditions. The comparison includes six multiple‐scattering spectral models, eight fast spectral models and four empirical models. Averages of the results of the six participating multiple‐scattering spectral models are taken as a basis for assessment. The agreement among the multiple‐scattering models is within ±0.5 UV index values for more than 80% of chosen atmospheric parameters. The fast spectral models have very different agreement, between ±1 and up to 12 UV index values. The results of the empirical models agree reasonably well with the reference models but only for the atmospheres for which they have been developed. The data to describe the atmospheric conditions, which are used for the comparison, together with the individual results of all participating models and model descriptions are available on the Internet: http://www.meteo.physik.uni‐muenchen.de/strahlung/cost/.

Separation distance to avoid odour nuisance due to livestock calculated by the Austrian odour dispersion model (AODM)

Odour emission of livestock buildings is major burden for ambient residential areas. Using a dispersion model to calculate ambient odour concentrations, the separation distance between livestock buildings and residential areas was defined by a pre-selected odour threshold and an exceeding probability. The dynamic Austrian odour dispersion model (AODM) was used to calculate the separation distance for several combinations of these two values, which represent the protection level of various land use categories. The AODM consists of three modules: (1) odour release on the basis of a simulation model for the indoor climate of livestock buildings; (2) a regulatory dispersion model (Gauss) to calculate hourly or half-hourly ambient odour concentrations; and (3) a fluctuation module, calculating the instantaneous odour concentration, depending on wind velocity and stability of the atmosphere. The calculated separation distances for a pig fattening unit of 1000 heads were compared with empirical guide lines used in some countries (Austria, Germany, Switzerland, The Netherlands, USA). For most guide lines, the separation distances were smaller compared to the model calculation, except for the German guide line applied for non-agricultural areas. Odour sensation occurred predominantly around sunset, with neutral or slightly stable atmospheric stability. The presented AODM is a useful tool for regulatory purpose.

Model for the global irradiance of the solar biologically-effective ultraviolet-radiation on inclined surfaces.

Abstract— The body surface area of man is the relevant receiving surface for solar UV radiation. To consider this body surface geometry, the biologically‐effective UV radiation of the solar global radiation was measured. This was done at 26 differently aligned measuring points whose orientation was determined by the angle of inclination (vertical) and the azimuth (horizontal). Approximately eight hundred sets of measurement series were carried out at 33 different sites. A simple model, developed from the data obtained, made it possible to calculate relative irradiance as a function of the angle of inclination and the ground reflection (UV albedo). Thus relative risk of solar UV exposure to different regions of the body can be assessed.

Comparison of measured and modelled uv indices for the assessment of health risks

The World Health Organisation (WHO) and the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) have jointly recommended that the UV Index (UVI) should be used to inform the public about possible health risks due to overexposure to solar radiation, especially skin damage. To test the current operational status of measuring and modelling techniques used in providing the public with UVI information, this article compares cloudless sky UVIs (measured using five instruments at four locations with different latitudes and climate) with the results of 13 models used in UVI forecasting schemes. For the models, only location, total ozone and solar zenith angle were provided as input parameters. In many cases the agreement is acceptable, i.e. less than 0.5 UVI. Larger differences may originate from instrumental errors and shortcomings in the models and their input parameters. A possible explanation for the differences between models is the treatment of the unknown input parameters, especially aerosols. Copyright

Physical Characteristics of Six New Thermocyclers

Since the publication of the first article describing PCR, thermocyclers have become a staple in academic and industrial laboratories (1). The thermocycler is a programmable cycling incubator that performs repeated PCR steps of DNA denaturation, primer annealing, and primer elongation at defined intervals. Rapid heat transfer from the heating block to the in-tube sample liquid ensures a high efficiency of amplicon multiplication; therefore, a thermal processor should guarantee temperature uniformity for all samples within an individual run as well as run-to-run repeatability. PCR-based protocols can give unsatisfying results (2)(3). Several collaborative studies have shown weak reproducibility with random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) protocols (4)(5). One reason might be the influence of the thermocycler on amplification efficiency. Despite its striking importance for PCR, the literature on thermocyclers is scarce. Some studies were published on the first generation of cyclers (6)(7)(8). Others determined the amplification efficiency but did not evaluate the physical characteristics (9)(10). The impact on PCR of the variation within thermocyclers, with regard to their thermocycling settings, has not been fully determined. The goal of this study was to define the physical characteristics of performance of the latest generation of thermocyclers and to discuss the influence of the physical properties on amplification efficiency. Six new thermocyclers were selected for this performance study: ( A ) Gene Amp 9700 (Applied Biosystems), ( B ) Multicycler PTC 200 (MJ Research, Inc.), …

Facial solar UV exposure of Austrian farmers during occupation.

Optoelectronic personal UV‐meters were used to monitor the occupational facial solar erythemally effective exposure of 12 Austrian full‐time farmers with high temporal resolution. To ensure high quality measurements several quality assurance procedures were applied, like calibration with respect to solar elevation and total ozone column. From April to October the test persons carried the UV‐meters on the forehead during working hours. A digital diary (activity, location, weather, photoprotective measures) was completed on an hourly basis. Our field test produced 1427 complete daily records (measurement and diary). The total exposures showed high variability (77 –757 standard erythema dose [SED]) which correlates with the number of working days and even stronger with the little numbers of days with high exposure (>10 SED). Risk factors for high exposures were: mixed‐culture farms with aggravated working conditions, low degree of automation of working processes, inadequate operating logistics (summarized as manual work outdoor), driving machines without cabins, and female gender. UV exposure of female farmers was approximately twice as high as that of men: Women received 15% of ambient radiation while men got 8%. Avoiding daily exposure >10 SED could reduce exposure down to 40% and the risk in developing skin cancer by a factor of 40.

Ultraviolet protective performance of photoprotective lipsticks: change of spectral transmittance because of ultraviolet exposure

Background: Photoinstability of sunscreens because of ultraviolet (UV) exposure is a well‐known and common phenomenon. Recently, it was also shown that sunscreens with complex filter combinations are photoinactivated by UV exposures, which can easily be acquired by solar exposure over several hours.

Global Forecast Model to Predict the Daily Dose of the Solar Erythemally Effective UV Radiation

Abstract A worldwide forecast of the erythemally effective ultraviolet (UV) radiation is presented. The forecast was established to inform the public about the expected amount of erythemally effective UV radiation for the next day. Besides the irradiance, the daily dose is forecasted to enable people to choose the appropriate sun protection tools. Following the UV Index as the measure of global erythemally effective irradiance, the daily dose is expressed in units of UV Index hours. In this study, we have validated the model and the forecast against measurements from broadband UV radiometers of the Robertson–Berger type. The measurements were made at four continents ranging from the northern polar circle (67.4°N) to the Antarctic coast (61.1°S). As additional quality criteria the frequency of underestimation was taken into account because the forecast is a tool of radiation protection and made to avoid overexposure. A value closer than one minimal erythemal dose for the most sensitive skin type 1 to the observed value was counted as hit and greater deviations as underestimation or overestimation. The Austrian forecast model underestimates the daily dose in 3.7% of all cases, whereas 1.7% results from the model and 2.0% from the assumed total ozone content. The hit rate could be found in the order of 40%.

Validation of the Austrian forecast model for solar, biologically effective UV radiation-UV index for Vienna

Since October 1995, a daily forecast of the UV index, as the irradiance of the biologically effective ultraviolet radiation, for the next day is published for Austria, Europe, and world wide. The Austrian forecast model as well as the input parameters are described. By connecting the UV index with the sensitivity of the photobiological skin types, a recommendation is given to select an appropriate sun protection factor of a sunscreen to avoid overexposure of the skin. The validation of the Austrian forecast model is done by measurements of the biologically effective ultraviolet radiation collected between July 1996 and July 1998 at Vienna (48°N, 16°E), Austria. The forecast quality is evaluated by comparing the Austrian model with two statistical models used in Canada and the Netherlands. By using the underestimation of the UV index as criteria in the sense of radiation protection, the Austrian model shows a 12% underestimation over the whole year.

Use of a Monte Carlo technique to complete a fragmented set of H2S emission rates from a wastewater treatment plant

The impact of ambient concentrations in the vicinity of a plant can only be assessed if the emission rate is known. In this study, based on measurements of ambient H2S concentrations and meteorological parameters, the a priori unknown emission rates of a tannery wastewater treatment plant are calculated by an inverse dispersion technique. The calculations are determined using the Gaussian Austrian regulatory dispersion model. Following this method, emission data can be obtained, though only for a measurement station that is positioned such that the wind direction at the measurement station is leeward of the plant. Using the inverse transform sampling, which is a Monte Carlo technique, the dataset can also be completed for those wind directions for which no ambient concentration measurements are available. For the model validation, the measured ambient concentrations are compared with the calculated ambient concentrations obtained from the synthetic emission data of the Monte Carlo model. The cumulative frequency distribution of this new dataset agrees well with the empirical data. This inverse transform sampling method is thus a useful supplement for calculating emission rates using the inverse dispersion technique.