Cumulative solar ultraviolet radiation exposure and basal cell carcinoma of the skin in a nationwide US cohort using satellite and ground-based measures

Table 5 Strengths and weaknesses of AVGLO and NASA TOMS measures of ultraviolet radiation (UVR)

Measure	Strengths	Weaknesses
AVGLO	Fine geographical resolution (1 km² grid).	Limited to continental USA
	Full day average of solar exposure.	Scaling required to get from total solar exposure to UVR.
	Ongoing data collection from 1960 to present.
	Non-erythemally weighted UVR
	Ground based (skyward facing)
	Measured irradiances
	Ground-based data collection, taking account of cloud cover throughout the day.
NASA TOMS	Worldwide coverage.	Limited geographical resolution (1 degree longitude × 1 degree latitude).
	Space based (earth facing)	Measurements are based on inferred peak (midday) irradiance.
		Erythemally weighted UVR.
		Scaling required to get from UVB to UVR
		Modeled irradiances based on satellite O₃ atmospheric absorption measures, taking account of elevation, solar zenith angle and time of sunrise/sunset
		Limited account taken of cloud cover (only as affects midday measurement).
		UVB measurements from 1978 to 1994 and 1996–2006. The TOMS Earth-Probe satellite failed in 2006, replaced by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument since then.

ISSN: 1476-069X