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UV Index

The UV Index (UVI) is internationally standardized. It is a measure of the intensity of UV radiation reaching the earth's surface on a horizontal area, weighted according to the risk of sunburn.

What is the UV Index?

The UV Index describes the expected daily peak level of the erythemal UV irradiance at ground level.

UV forecast areasSource: Map of Germany ©GeoBasis-DE / BKG [2005]

Forecast Areas

The UV Index forecast areas are a division of Germany for the UV Index forecast. The division takes into account geographical, meteorological and climatological factors. The forecast UV Index values indicate averages for these regions.

Map of germany with locations of uv measuring stations

UV monitoring network

The incident solar radiation is continuously measured at twelve stations in the Federal Republic of Germany with finite instrument resolution of the wavelength.

UV-Prognose

UV-forecast

UV index forecasts are issued every 3 days each year from April to September by BfS, in cooperation with the Federal Environment Agency (Umweltbundesamt), Germany's National Meteorological Service (Deutscher Wetterdienst, DWD) and other associated institutions. The UV index is the internationally standardised measure of the daily peak value of erythemal UV radiation expected to reach the Earth’s surface. The higher the UVI value, the less time it takes for sunburn to occur on unprotected skin.

Globus und UV-Index

UV Index worldwide

Typical UV Index values in various countries worldwide, calculated with the radiation transfer programme STAR at the 21st of each month.

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