DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.7050989
title: A dataset of global variations in directional solar radiation exposure for ocular research using the libRadtran radiative transfer model

description: Directional solar photon flux density has particular relevance to eye disease research (keratitis, cataract formation, macula degeneration) because ocular components (cornea, lens, retina) experience different exposures dependent on global location, structural geometry of the eye and human behaviour (Sliney, 1997). The human macula has a field of view of ~17<strong>°</strong>, or 0.06901537 sr (Strasburger, Rentschler & Jüttner, 2011) and its cone of exposure can be modelled at a range of global locations using a radiation transfer model to estimate different directions of irradiation. This dataset provides examples of spectral radiance within the macula field of vision, calculated with the radiative transfer model libRadtran v2.0.3 (Mayer & Kylling, 2005). Three data sets are provided at different latitudes without correction for spectral ocular transmission. Unless otherwise specified, all simulations were parametrized according to local meteorological condition (altitude, pressure, temperature) and atmospheric conditions on the simulated day (aerosol optical density, water column, O<sub>3</sub> and NO<sub>2</sub> concentrations). The model was parametrized for a subject looking northward toward the ground (-15<strong>°</strong> from horizon), at a height of 170 cm above the ground. For each simulation, a separate file is available for each condition (latitude, time, date, see below) that includes radiance at each wavelength. Radiance values are in mW m<sup>-2</sup> nm<sup>-1</sup> sr<sup>-1</sup>. The technique provides future opportunity to model global exposures of different ocular components to spectral solar irradiance using information on ocular transmission, local terrain, albedo and human behaviour in order to explore their relevance in epidemiological studies of age-related eye disease. For each simulation, a separate file is available for each condition (latitude, time, date, see below) that includes radiance at each wavelength. Radiance values are in mW m<sup>-2</sup> nm<sup>-1</sup> sr<sup>-1</sup>. The technique provides future opportunity to model global exposures of different ocular components to spectral solar irradiance using information on ocular transmission, local terrain, albedo and human behaviour in order to explore their relevance in epidemiological studies of age-related eye disease. <em>Simulation 1: </em>This data set reports the spectral radiance from 250 - 500 nm at: 3 latitudes (61.0: Southern Finland, 50.1 Northern France, 38.0: Central Spain). 4 dates (April 17<sup>th</sup>, July 1<sup>st</sup>, September 1<sup>st</sup>, November 6<sup>th</sup> 2019). 24 hours. 8 cardinal directions (every 45<strong>° </strong>from North). 2 aerosol optical densities (0.1 and 2.5). <em>Simulation 2: </em>This data set reports the spectral radiance from 250 - 2,500 nm at: 3 latitudes (61.0: Southern Finland, 50.1 Northern France, 38.0: Central Spain). 4 dates (April 17<sup>th</sup>, July 1<sup>st</sup>, September 1<sup>st</sup>, November 6<sup>th</sup> 2019). 24 hours. 1 cardinal direction (North). 2 aerosol optical densities (0.1 and 2.5). <em>Simulation 3: </em>This data set reports the spectral radiance from 250 - 500 nm at: 1 latitude (61.0: Southern Finland). 4 dates (April 17<sup>th</sup>, July 1<sup>st</sup>, September 1<sup>st</sup>, November 6<sup>th</sup> 2019). 24 hours. 9 cardinal directions (every 40<strong>° </strong>from North). 3 bidirectional reflectance distribution functions for the ground (forest, urban, snow). 2 tilt angles for the eye direction (0<strong>° </strong> from horizon or -15<strong>°</strong> from horizon, toward the ground).
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