Simultaneous localized solar radiation monitoring in different broadband spectral
ranges has several important advantages over isolated measurements for both basic
and applied research. Its integration into a network under standardized protocols
has, in turn, worthy benefits including the possibility to characterize geographically
the solar radiation levels in large regions. Recently, an integrated UV-Total solar
irradiance monitoring network has been deployed in Argentina in 8 stations with
new instruments, measurement sites, and protocols into the frame of the Saver-Net
project (Japan, Argentina, and Chile) carried out during the period 2013-2018.
The network is managed by the Argentine Servicio Meteorológico Nacional (SMN)
and Instituto de Investigaciones Cientı́ficas y Técnicas para la Defensa (CITEDEF –
UNIDEF). In this paper, the structure, capability and several initial achievements of
the Argentine UV-Total solar irradiance monitoring network are described with the
aim to make these databases available to the scientific community for their broad
use in basic and applied research. In addition, the irradiance characterization at
each monitoring node of the network is presented. Extreme values over 1000 Wm −2
of Total solar irradiance, 60 Wm −2 of UVA solar irradiance and UV Index of 9 are
registered even in the southernmost stations, with their consequent signification for
the practical applications of the solar energy and health implications such as the
risk to cause erythema.