Astropolis has a modern weather station with additional professional instruments supplied by the RMI (Royal Meteorological Institute of Belgium) and BIRA (Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy) in the form of pyranometers for detecting the solar flux in UV-A and UV-B . Our location is free of tall trees and buildings and therefore optimal for obtaining particularly accurate data. These are useful for ourselves, especially during events and observation activities, but also for the residents of Ostend who are entitled to their own coastal weather report. Our coastal climate can often deviate from the predictions…
Pyranometers
Since the beginning of 2024, various pyranometers have been installed to detect the solar flux in UV-A and UV-B. Ultraviolet or UV-A is electromagnetic radiation just outside the part of the spectrum that is visible to the human eye. The intensity of ultraviolet radiation in solar radiation is expressed in the so-called UV index. With a high UV index, more ultraviolet radiation is present than with a low one. Too much ultraviolet radiation (UV-B) can cause the skin to turn red or burn, and it can even cause skin cancer. UV-A radiation causes melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. UV-B causes various other, less aggressive forms of skin cancer. UV-C is blocked by the atmosphere…
