  Systematic spectral measurements of downwelling solar radiation, both of
global and diffuse, have been collected in summertime during 8 years in the
hemi-boreal zone in south east Estonia near the SMEAR-Estonia research station.
The measurements provided information about the variation of spectral and
total, global and diffuse irradiance in the wavelength range from 300 to 2160
nm with spectral resolution of 3 nm in UV to 16 nm in SWIR spectral regions.
Unique data have been collected and quantitative description of the variability
of the measured spectra is provided. For the description of the synoptic
situation during measurements, instead of cloud cover, the ratio of measured to
possible total irradiance in the spectral range of 320--1800 nm is used. This
ratio could be used as the primary meteorological parameter instead of cloud
cover which is difficult to measure instrumentally.
