Calculated Ultraviolet Exposure Levels for a Healthy Vitamin D Status

Version 1.0, Copyright © 2005 NILU, Ola Engelsen
Norwegian Institute for Air Research

Press here for more information on this web program and simpler versions
NOTE! version 1.2 is available here


Solar Geometry for Irradiance Calculations

Month Day

Latitude (degs N) Longitude (degs E)

When checked, use degrees for Solar Zenith Angle directly and ignore Date, Time, and Location


Skin type: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Press here for description of skin types.


Timing of exposure: Around midday Start time (hours UTC)


Body exposure: %.


Desired dietary equivalent dose of vitamin D: IU. (1000 IU widely recommended every other day)


Cloudless sky: Visibility of km, Range [5-350] km. Ångström β of , Range [0.0-0.4] (AOD = βλµm-1.3).

Scattered clouds: Cloud fraction of %, Range [0-100]. Cloud liquid water column of g m-2, Range [0-5000].

Broken clouds (radiation enhancement): Cloud liquid water column of g m-2, Range [0-5000].

Overcast sky: Cloud liquid water path (LWP) of g m-2, Range [0-5000]. (Thin clouds: LWP < 50 g m-2; Thick clouds: LWP > 500 g m-2)

Estimate cloud thickness from UV index assuming overcast sky: UV index [0-20]


Total ozone column: Dobson Units (1000 * cm atm), Range [100-600]
Press here for total ozone column measurements from the satellite instruments (OMI).


Surface elevation km. Range [0.0-6.0] km

Surface albedo of Range [0.0-1.0].

Surface type:






This work has been funded by the European Commission (EC) and the Norwegian Research Council ( NFR) through the projects UV Radiation in the Arctic: Past, Present and Future (UVRAPPF) and European Database for UV Climatology and Evaluation (EDUCE).

Contact: nilu@nilu.no (Arve Kylling or Tove Svendby)
NILU - Norwegian Institute for Air Research
Instituttveien 18
NO-2027 Kjeller
Norway