公众对臭氧水平下降以及由此产生的紫外线（UV）辐射到达地球的担忧日益增加，因此需要以可信和可理解的方式向公众传达有关紫外线辐射水平的日常信息。本标准的目的是提供这样一个标准化的量表。本标准建立了一个定量指标，用于向公众报告到达地球表面的有害环境太阳紫外线辐射水平。全球太阳紫外线指数量化了皮肤暴露于紫外线的程度。这是在现实大气中对紫外线水平的最佳估计: 云、污染物等都包含在任何预测中。

Increasing public concern over declining ozone levels and the resultant ultraviolet (UV) radiation reaching the earth has brought about a need to communicate daily information on UV radiation level to the public in a credible and understandable manner. The purpose of this standard is to provide such a standardized scale.This standard establishes a quantitative index for reporting the level of harmful ambient solar ultraviolet radiation reaching the surface of the earth to the general public. The Global Solar UV Index quantifies the exposure of the skin to ultraviolet radiation. It is the best estimate of the UV level given a realistic atmosphere: clouds, pollutants, etc. are included in any prediction.