Keeping our eye on solar radiation

The University is collaborating with the University of Valladolid, Spain, in a project aimed at measuring ultraviolet solar radiation in Malta and the Mediterranean region.

Sensors of Ultraviolet A and B rays have recently been installed at the University’s Institute for Sustainable Energy in Marsaxlokk, with financial support from the University’s academic research fund. The sensors will provide the first-ever readings taken in Malta for UV-A and UV-B, which would help evaluate the actual exposure to UV radiation in Malta.

Meanwhile, two Ph.D. students from Valladolid University, David Mateos and Roberto Roman, recently installed an erythermal radiation instrument at the institute. Their work is being supported by the Spanish government.

These instruments will provide data of total radiation, UV radiation, ozone column, aerosol load, and water precipitation. The effect of dust from the Sahara desert on UV and total radiation will also be studied.

The data collected will be validated against mathematical models, with the aim of reconstructing a long-term database of UV radiation and UV index history for the Mediterranean region through collaborations with other entities and databases in other countries.

The institute has been monitoring solar radiation in Malta since 1993. The collaboration with Valladolid University started 10 years ago with Erasmus student and staff exchanges and a number of joint scientific papers have also been published as a result of research collaboration covering solar and wind energy, energy use in buildings,heat pumps and atmospheric pollution caused by transport.

Compiled by Noelene Scerri.