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This study analyses the variability and trends of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, wavelength 280–320 nm) radiation that can cause DNA damage. The variability and trends caused by climate change due to enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. The analysis is based on DNA-active irradiance, total ozone, total cloud cover, and surface albedo calculations with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts – Hamburg (ECHAM)/Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) chemistry–climate model (CCM) free-running simulations following the RCP 6.0 climate scenario for the period 1960–2100. The model output is evaluated with DNA-active irradiance ground-based measurements, satellite SBUV (v8.7) total-ozone measurements, and satellite MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra cloud cover data. The results show that the model reproduces the observed variability and change in total ozone, DNA-active irradiance, and cloud cover for the period 2000–2018 quite well according to the statistical comparisons. Between 50∘ N–50∘ S, the DNA-damaging UV radiation is expected to decrease until 2050 and to increase thereafter, as was shown previously by Eleftheratos et al. (2020). This change is associated with decreases in the model total cloud cover and negative trends in total ozone after about 2050 due to increasing GHGs. The new study confirms the previous work by adding more stations over low latitudes and mid-latitudes (13 instead of 5 stations). In addition, we include estimates from high-latitude stations with long-term measurements of UV irradiance (three stations in the northern high latitudes and four stations in the southern high latitudes greater than 55∘). In contrast to the predictions for 50∘ N–50∘ S, it is shown that DNA-active irradiance will continue to decrease after the year 2050 over high latitudes because of upward ozone trends. At latitudes poleward of 55∘ N, we estimate that DNA-active irradiance will decrease by 8.2 %±3.8 % from 2050 to 2100. Similarly, at latitudes poleward of 55∘ S, DNA-active irradiance will decrease by 4.8 % ± 2.9 % after 2050. The results for the high latitudes refer to the summer period and not to the seasons when ozone depletion occurs, i.e. in late winter and spring. The contributions of ozone, cloud, and albedo trends to the DNA-active irradiance trends are estimated and discussed.

This study analyses the variability and trends of ultraviolet-B (UV-B, wavelength 280–320 nm) radiation that can cause DNA damage. The variability and trends caused by climate change due to enhanced greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations. The analysis is based on DNA-active irradiance, total ozone, total cloud cover, and surface albedo calculations with the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts – Hamburg (ECHAM)/Modular Earth Submodel System (MESSy) Atmospheric Chemistry (EMAC) chemistry–climate model (CCM) free-running simulations following the RCP 6.0 climate scenario for the period 1960–2100. The model output is evaluated with DNA-active irradiance ground-based measurements, satellite SBUV (v8.7) total-ozone measurements, and satellite MODerate-resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Terra cloud cover data. The results show that the model reproduces the observed variability and change in total ozone, DNA-active irradiance, and cloud cover for the period 2000–2018 quite well according to the statistical comparisons. Between 50∘ N–50∘ S, the DNA-damaging UV radiation is expected to decrease until 2050 and to increase thereafter, as was shown previously by Eleftheratos et al. (2020). This change is associated with decreases in the model total cloud cover and negative trends in total ozone after about 2050 due to increasing GHGs. The new study confirms the previous work by adding more stations over low latitudes and mid-latitudes (13 instead of 5 stations). In addition, we include estimates from high-latitude stations with long-term measurements of UV irradiance (three stations in the northern high latitudes and four stations in the southern high latitudes greater than 55∘). In contrast to the predictions for 50∘ N–50∘ S, it is shown that DNA-active irradiance will continue to decrease after the year 2050 over high latitudes because of upward ozone trends. At latitudes poleward of 55∘ N, we estimate that DNA-active irradiance will decrease by 8.2 %±3.8 % from 2050 to 2100. Similarly, at latitudes poleward of 55∘ S, DNA-active irradiance will decrease by 4.8 % ± 2.9 % after 2050. The results for the high latitudes refer to the summer period and not to the seasons when ozone depletion occurs, i.e. in late winter and spring. The contributions of ozone, cloud, and albedo trends to the DNA-active irradiance trends are estimated and discussed.

We calculate the variation of spectral solar irradiance in the umbral shadow of the total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017 and compare it to observations. Starting from the Sun's and Moon's positions, we derive a realistic profile of the lunar shadow at the top of the atmosphere, including the effect of solar limb darkening. Subsequently, the Monte Carlo model MYSTIC (Monte Carlo code for the phYSically correct Tracing of photons In Cloudy atmospheres) is used to simulate the transfer of solar radiation through the Earth's atmosphere. Among the effects taken into account are the atmospheric state (pressure, temperature), concentrations of major gas constituents and the curvature of the Earth, as well as the reflectance and elevation of the surrounding area. We apply the model to the total solar eclipse on 21 August 2017 at a position located in Oregon, USA, where irradiance observations were performed for wavelengths between 306 and 1020 nm. The influence of the surface reflectance, the ozone profile, the mountains surrounding the observer and aerosol is investigated. An increased sensitivity during totality is found for the reflectance, aerosol and topography, compared to non-eclipse conditions. During the eclipse, the irradiance at the surface not only depends on the total ozone column (TOC) but also on the vertical ozone distribution, which in general complicates derivations of the TOC from spectral surface irradiance. The findings are related to an analysis of the prevailing photon path and its difference compared to non-eclipse conditions. Using the most realistic estimate for each parameter, the model is compared to the irradiance observations. During totality, the relative difference between model and observations is less than 10 % in the spectral range from 400 to 1020 nm. Slightly larger deviations occur in the ultraviolet range below 400 and at 665 nm.

The Montreal Protocol and its Amendments have been highly effective in protecting the stratospheric ozone layer, preventing global increases in solar ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B; 280-315 nm) at Earth's surface, and reducing global warming. While ongoing and projected changes in UV-B radiation and climate still pose a threat to human health, food security, air and water quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, and construction materials and fabrics, the Montreal Protocol continues to play a critical role in protecting Earth's inhabitants and ecosystems by addressing many of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Changes in stratospheric ozone and climate over the past 40-plus years have altered the solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ozone depletion has also contributed to climate change across the Southern Hemisphere. These changes are interacting in complex ways to affect human health, food and water security, and ecosystem services. Many adverse effects of high UV exposure have been avoided thanks to the Montreal Protocol with its Amendments and Adjustments, which have effectively controlled the production and use of ozone-depleting substances. This international treaty has also played an important role in mitigating climate change. Climate change is modifying UV exposure and affecting how people and ecosystems respond to UV; these effects will become more pronounced in the future. The interactions between stratospheric ozone, climate and UV radiation will therefore shift over time; however, the Montreal Protocol will continue to have far-reaching benefits for human well-being and environmental sustainability.

Measurements of spectral irradiance between 306 and 1020 nm were performed with a GUVis-3511 multi-channel filter radiometer at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, during the total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017. The radiometer was equipped with a shadowband, allowing the separation of the global (sun and sky) and direct components of solar radiation. Data were used to study the wavelength-dependent changes in solar irradiance at Earth's surface. Results were compared with theoretical predictions using three different parameterizations of the solar limb darkening (LD) effect, which describes the change in the solar spectrum from the Sun's center to its limb. Results indicate that the LD parameterization that has been most widely used during the last 15 years underestimates the LD effect, in particular at UV wavelengths. The two alternative parameterizations are based on two independent sets of observations from the McMath–Pierce solar telescope. When these parameterizations are used, the observed and theoretical LD effects agree to within 4 % for wavelengths larger than 400 nm and occultation of the solar disk of up to 97.8 %. Maximum deviations for wavelengths between 315 and 340 nm are 7 %. These somewhat larger differences compared to the visible range may be explained with varying aerosol conditions during the period of observations. The aerosol optical depth (AOD) and its wavelength dependence was calculated from measurements of direct irradiance. When corrected for the LD effect, the AOD decreases over the period of the eclipse: from 0.41 to 0.34 at 319 nm and from 0.05 to 0.04 at 1018 nm. These results show that AODs can be accurately calculated during an eclipse if the LD effect is corrected. The total ozone column (TOC) was derived from measurements of global irradiance at 306 and 340 nm. Without correction for the LD effect, the retrieved TOC increases by 20 DU between the first and second contact of the eclipse. With LD correction, the TOC remains constant to within natural variability (±2.6 DU or ±0.9 % between first and second contact and ±1.0 DU or ±0.3 % between third and fourth contact). In contrast to results of observations from earlier solar eclipses, no fluctuations in TOC were observed that could be unambiguously attributed to gravity waves, which can be triggered by the supersonic speed of the Moon's shadow across the atmosphere. Furthermore, systematic changes in the ratio of direct and global irradiance that could be attributed to the solar eclipse were not observed, in agreement with results of three-dimensional (3-D) radiative transfer (RT) models. Our results advance the understanding of the effects of solar LD on the spectral irradiance at Earth's surface, the variations in ozone during an eclipse, and the partitioning of solar radiation in direct and diffuse components.

This report assesses the effects of stratospheric ozone depletion and anticipated ozone recovery on the intensity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth's surface. Interactions between changes in ozone and changes in climate, as well as their effects on UV radiation, are also considered. These evaluations focus mainly on new knowledge gained from research conducted during the last four years. Furthermore, drivers of changes in UV radiation other than ozone are discussed and their relative importance is assessed. The most important of these factors, namely clouds, aerosols and surface reflectivity, are related to changes in climate, and some of their effects on short- and long-term variations of UV radiation have already been identified from measurements. Finally, projected future developments in stratospheric ozone, climate, and other factors affecting UV radiation have been used to estimate changes in solar UV radiation from the present to the end of the 21st century. New instruments and methods have been assessed with respect to their ability to provide useful and accurate information for monitoring solar UV radiation at the Earth's surface and for determining relevant exposures of humans. Evidence since the last assessment reconfirms that systematic and accurate long-term measurements of UV radiation and stratospheric ozone are essential for assessing the effectiveness of the Montreal Protocol and its Amendments and adjustments. Finally, we have assessed aspects of UV radiation related to biological effects and human health, as well as implications for UV radiation from possible solar radiation management (geoengineering) methods to mitigate climate change.

Measurements of solar ultraviolet radiation (UVR) performed between January and June 2020 at 10 Arctic and subarctic locations are compared with historical observations. Differences between 2020 and prior years are also assessed with total ozone column and UVR data from satellites. Erythemal (sunburning) UVR is quantified with the UV Index (UVI) derived from these measurements. UVI data show unprecedently large anomalies, occurring mostly between early March and mid-April 2020. For several days, UVIs observed in 2020 exceeded measurements of previous years by up to 140%. Historical means were surpassed by more than six standard deviations at several locations in the Arctic. In northern Canada, the average UVI for March was about 75% larger than usual. UVIs in April 2020 were elevated on average by about 25% at all sites. However, absolute anomalies remained below 3.0 UVI units because the enhancements occurred during times when the solar elevation was still low.

The success of the Montreal Protocol in curbing increases in harmful solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation at the Earth&rsquo, s surface has recently been demonstrated. This study also provided evidence that the UV Index (UVI) measured by SUV-100 spectroradiometers at three Antarctic sites (South Pole, Arrival Heights, and Palmer Station) is now decreasing. For example, a significant (95% confidence level) downward trend of &minus, 5.5% per decade was reported at Arrival Heights for summer (December through February). However, it was also noted that these measurements are potentially affected by long-term drifts in calibrations of approximately 1% per decade. To address this issue, we have reviewed the chain of calibrations implemented at the three sites between 1996 and 2018 and applied corrections for changes in the scales of spectral irradiance (SoSI) that have occurred over this period (Method 1). This analysis resulted in an upward correction of UVI data measured after 2012 by 1.7% to 1.8%, plus smaller adjustments for several shorter periods. In addition, we have compared measurements during clear skies with model calculations to identify and correct anomalies in the measurements (Method 2). Corrections from both methods reduced decadal trends in UVI on average by 1.7% at the South Pole, 2.1% at Arrival Heights, and 1.6% at Palmer Station. Trends in UVI calculated from the corrected dataset are consistent with concomitant trends in ozone. The decadal trend in UVI calculated from the corrected dataset for summer at Arrival Heights is &minus, 3.3% and is significant at the 90% level. Analysis of spectral irradiance measurements at 340 nm suggests that this trend is partially caused by changes in sea ice cover adjacent to the station. For the South Pole, a significant (95% level) trend in UVI of &minus, 3.9% per decade was derived for January. This trend can partly be explained by a significant positive trend in total ozone of about 3% per decade, which was calculated from SUV-100 and Dobson measurements. Our study provides further evidence that UVIs are now decreasing in Antarctica during summer months. Reductions have not yet emerged during spring when the ozone hole leads to large UVI variability.

A GUV multifilter radiometer was set up at Marambio, 64° S 56° W, Antarctica, in 2017. The instrument measures continuously ultraviolet (UV) radiation, visible (VIS) radiation and photosynthetically active radiation (PAR). The measurements are designed for providing high quality long-term time series which can be used to assess the impact of global climate change in the Antarctic region. The quality assurance includes regular absolute calibrations and solar comparisons performed at the site and at Sodankylä, Finland. The actual measurements continue the time series measured at Marambio with NILU-UV radiometers during 2000–2010 as part of the Antarctic NILU-UV network. They are optimal for assessing the effects of the ongoing stratospheric ozone recovery on the ecosystem as the data products include information on radiation at various wavelengths ranging from UV to VIS so that changes on biologically effective radiation due to ozone can be separated from those due to other factors. The final data products are total ozone, PAR, VIS radiation at 555 nm, UV index, UV irradiance at 5 channels, UVB and UVA dose rate/daily dose, and biologically weighted UV dose rate/ daily dose, including 10 different action spectra. The data from the last five days and the daily maximum UV index time series are plotted and updated daily on the web page fmiarc.fmi.fi/sub_sites/GUVant/. The first two years of UV measurements were very different in terms of the results: The monthly average of daily maximum UVB dose rates were clearly higher in 2018 than in 2017 during the period from October to December. The largest difference was observed in October, when the average of daily maximum UVB dose rates was 7.6 kWm−2 and 10.2 kWm−2 in 2017 and 2018, respectively. The monthly averages were close to each other for all the three months in 2018, while in 2017 the monthly average of October was lower than those of November and December. VIS and PAR time series show that daily maxima in 2018–2019 exceed those in 2017–2018 during the late spring and the summer (mid-November–January). The studied dataset is freely accessible at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.3553634 (Lakkala et al.,2019).

The Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer has been hailed as the most successful environmental treaty ever (https://www.unenvironment.org/news-and-stories/story/montreal-protocol-triumph-treaty). Yet, although our main concern about ozone depletion is the subsequent increase in harmful solar UV radiation at the Earth’s surface, no studies to date have demonstrated its effectiveness in that regard. Here we use long-term UV Index (UVI) data derived from high-quality UV spectroradiometer measurements to demonstrate its success in curbing increases in UV radiation. Without this landmark agreement, UVI values would have increased at mid-latitude locations by approximately 20% between the early 1990s and today and would approximately quadruple at mid-latitudes by 2100. In contrast, an analysis of UVI data from multiple clean-air sites shows that maximum daily UVI values have remained essentially constant over the last ~20 years in all seasons, and may even have decreased slightly in the southern hemisphere, especially in Antarctica, where effects of ozone depletion were larger. Reconstructions of the UVI from total ozone data show evidence of increasing UVI levels in the 1980s, but unfortunately, there are no high-quality UV measurements available prior to the early 1990s to confirm these increases with direct observations.

We calculate the variation of spectral solar irradiance in the umbral shadow of the total solar eclipse of August 21, 2017 and compare it to observations. Starting from the sun's and moon's positions, we derive a realistic profile of the lunar shadow at the top of the atmosphere, including the effect of solar limb darkening. Subsequently, the Monte-Carlo model MYSTIC is used to simulate the transfer of solar radiation through the earth's atmosphere. Among the effects taken into account are the atmospheric state (pressure, temperature), concentrations of major gas constituents and the curvature of the earth, as well as the reflectance and elevation of the surrounding area. We apply the model to the total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 at a position located in Oregon, where irradiance observations were performed for wavelengths between 306 nm and 1020 nm. The influence of the surface reflectance, the ozone profile and mountains surrounding the observer is investigated. An increased sensitivity during totality is found for the reflectance and topography, compared to non-eclipse conditions. During the eclipse, the irradiance at the surface does not only depend on the total ozone column (TOC) but also the vertical ozone distribution, which in general complicates derivations of the TOC from spectral surface irradiance. The findings are related to an analysis of the prevailing photon path and its difference compared to non-eclipse conditions. Using the most realistic estimate for each parameter, the model is compared to the irradiance observations. During totality, the relative difference between model and observations is less than 10 % in the spectral range from 400 nm to 1020 nm. Slightly larger deviations occur in the ultraviolet range below 400 nm and at 665 nm.

Measurements of spectral irradiance between 306 and 1020 nm were performed with a GUVis-3511 multi-channel filter radiometer at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon, during the total solar eclipse of 21 August 2017. The radiometer was equipped with a shadowband, allowing to separate the global (sun and sky) and direct components of solar radiation. Data were used to study the wavelength-dependent changes of solar irradiance at Earth's surface. Results were compared with theoretical predictions using three different parameterizations of the solar limb darkening (LD) effect, which describes the change of the solar spectrum from the Sun's center to its limb. Results indicate that the LD parameterization that has been most widely used during the last 15 years underestimates the LD effect, in particular at UV wavelengths. The two alternative parameterizations are based on two independent sets of observations from the McMath-Pierce Solar Telescope. When these parameterizations are used, the observed and theoretical LD effects agree to within 4 % for wavelengths larger than 400 nm and occultation of the solar disk of up to 97.8 %. Maximum deviations for wavelengths between 315 and 340 nm are 7 %. These somewhat larger differences compared to the visible range may be explained with varying aerosol conditions during the period of observations. Aerosol optical depth (AOD) and its wavelength dependence was calculated from measurements of direct irradiance. When corrected for the LD effect, AOD monotonically decreases over the period of the eclipse: from 0.41 to 0.32 at 319 nm and from 0.05 to 0.04 at 1018 nm. These results show that AODs can be accurately calculated during an eclipse if the LD effect is corrected. The total ozone column (TOC) was derived from measurements of global irradiance at 306 and 340 nm. Without correction for the LD effect, the retrieved TOC increases by 20 DU between the 1st and 2nd contact of the eclipse. With LD correction, the TOC remains constant to within natural variability (±2.6 DU or ±0.9 % between 1st and 2nd contact and ±1.0 DU or ±0.3 % between 3rd and 4th contact). In contrast to results of observations from earlier solar eclipses, no fluctuations in TOC were observed that could be attributed to gravity waves, which can be triggered by the supersonic speed of the Moon's shadow across the atmosphere. Furthermore, systematic changes in the ratio of direct and global irradiance that could be attributed to the solar eclipse were not observed. This finding agrees with results of three-dimensional radiative transfer models but contradicts reports from earlier observations, which indicate that the diffuse-to-direct ratio may change by 30 %. Our results advance the understanding of the effects of solar LD on the spectral irradiance at Earth's surface, the variations of ozone during an eclipse, and the partitioning of solar radiation in direct and diffuse components.

The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) is one of three Panels that regularly informs the Parties (countries) to the Montreal Protocol on the effects of ozone depletion and the consequences of climate change interactions with respect to human health, animals, plants, biogeochemistry, air quality, and materials. The Panels provide a detailed assessment report every four years. The most recent 2014 Quadrennial Assessment by the EEAP was published as a special issue of seven papers in 2015 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015, 14, 1-184). The next Quadrennial Assessment will be published in 2018/2019. In the interim, the EEAP generally produces an annual update or progress report of the relevant scientific findings. The present progress report for 2015 assesses some of the highlights and new insights with regard to the interactive nature of the effects of UV radiation, atmospheric processes, and climate change.

A new method is presented to determine vertical ozone profiles from measurements of spectral global (direct Sun plus upper hemisphere) irradiance in the UV. The method is similar to the widely used Umkehr technique, which inverts measurements of zenith sky radiance. The procedure was applied to measurements of a high-resolution spectroradiometer installed near the centre of the Greenland ice sheet. Retrieved profiles were validated with balloon sonde observations and ozone profiles from the space-borne Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS). Depending on altitude, the bias between retrieval results presented in this paper and MLS observations ranges between −5 % and +3 %. The magnitude of this bias is comparable, if not smaller, to values reported in the literature for the standard Dobson Umkehr method. Total ozone columns (TOCs) calculated from the retrieved profiles agree to within 0.7 ± 2.0 % (±1σ) with TOCs measured by the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) onboard the Aura satellite. The new method is called the “Global-Umkehr” method.

The 19-channel rotating shadowband radiometer GUVis-3511 built by Biospherical Instruments provides automated shipborne measurements of the direct, diffuse and global spectral irradiance components without a requirement for platform stabilization. Several direct sun products, including spectral direct beam transmittance, aerosol optical depth, Ångström exponent and precipitable water, can be derived from these observations. The individual steps of the data analysis are described, and the different sources of uncertainty are discussed. The total uncertainty of the observed direct beam transmittances is estimated to be about 4 % for most channels within a 95 % confidence interval for shipborne operation. The calibration is identified as the dominating contribution to the total uncertainty. A comparison of direct beam transmittance with those obtained from a Cimel sunphotometer at a land site and a manually operated Microtops II sunphotometer on a ship is presented. Measurements deviate by less than 3 and 4 % on land and on ship, respectively, for most channels and in agreement with our previous uncertainty estimate. These numbers demonstrate that the instrument is well suited for shipborne operation, and the applied methods for motion correction work accurately. Based on spectral direct beam transmittance, aerosol optical depth can be retrieved with an uncertainty of 0.02 for all channels within a 95 % confidence interval. The different methods to account for Rayleigh scattering and gas absorption in our scheme and in the Aerosol Robotic Network processing for Cimel sunphotometers lead to minor deviations. Relying on the cross calibration of the 940 nm water vapor channel with the Cimel sunphotometer, the column amount of precipitable water can be estimated with an uncertainty of ±0.034 cm.

The Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP) is one of three Panels of experts that inform the Parties to the Montreal Protocol. The EEAP focuses on the effects of UV radiation on human health, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, air quality, and materials, as well as on the interactive effects of UV radiation and global climate change. When considering the effects of climate change, it has become clear that processes resulting in changes in stratospheric ozone are more complex than previously held. Because of the Montreal Protocol, there are now indications of the beginnings of a recovery of stratospheric ozone, although the time required to reach levels like those before the 1960s is still uncertain, particularly as the effects of stratospheric ozone on climate change and vice versa, are not yet fully understood. Some regions will likely receive enhanced levels of UV radiation, while other areas will likely experience a reduction in UV radiation as ozone- and climate-driven changes affect the amounts of UV radiation reaching the Earth´s surface. Like the other Panels, the EEAP produces detailed Quadrennial Reports every four years; the most recent was published as a series of seven papers in 2015 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015, 14, 1-184). In the years in between, the EEAP produces less detailed and shorter Update Reports of recent and relevant scientific findings. The most recent of these was for 2016 (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2017, 16, 107-145). The present 2017 Update Report assesses some of the highlights and new insights about the interactive nature of the direct and indirect effects of UV radiation, atmospheric processes, and climate change. A full 2018 Quadrennial Assessment, will be made available in 2018/2019. Fil: Bais, A. F.. Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki; Grecia Fil: Lucas, R. M.. Australian National University; Australia Fil: Bornman, J. F.. Curtin University; Australia Fil: Williamson, C. E.. Miami University; Estados Unidos Fil: Sulzberger, B.. Swiss Federal Institute Of Aquatic Science And Technology; Suiza Fil: Austin, Amy Theresa. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina Fil: Wilson, S. R.. University Of Wollongong; Australia Fil: Andrady, A. L.. North Carolina State University; Estados Unidos Fil: Bernhard, G.. Biospherical Instruments, Inc.; Estados Unidos Fil: McKenzie, R. L.. National Institute Of Water And Atmospheric Research; Nueva Zelanda Fil: Aucamp, P. J.. Ptersa Environmental Consultants; Sudáfrica Fil: Madronich, S.. National Center for Atmospheric Research; Estados Unidos Fil: Neale, R. E.. Royal Brisbane Hospital; Australia Fil: Yazar, S.. University of Western Australia; Australia Fil: Young, A. R.. King's College London; Reino Unido Fil: De Gruijl, F. R.. Leiden University Medical Center; Países Bajos Fil: Norval, M.. Edinburgh Medical School; Reino Unido Fil: Takizawa, Y.. Akita University School Of Medicine; Japón Fil: Barnes, P. W.. Loyola University; Estados Unidos Fil: Robson, T. M.. University of Helsinski; Finlandia Fil: Robinson, S. A.. University Of Wollongong; Australia Fil: Ballare, Carlos Luis. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Oficina de Coordinación Administrativa Parque Centenario. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Instituto de Investigaciones Fisiológicas y Ecológicas Vinculadas a la Agricultura; Argentina Fil: Flint, S. D.. University of Idaho; Estados Unidos Fil: Neale, P. J.. Smithsonian Environmental Research Center; Estados Unidos Fil: Hylande, S.. Linnaeus University; Suecia Fil: Rose, K. C.. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute; Estados Unidos Fil: Wängberg, S.-Å.. University of Gothenburg; Suecia Fil: Häder, D.-P.. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; Alemania Fil: Worrest, R. C.. Columbia University; Estados Unidos Fil: Zepp, R. G.. United States Environmental Protection Agency; Estados Unidos Fil: Paul, N. D.. Lancaster University; Estados Unidos Fil: Cory, R. M.. University of Michigan; Estados Unidos Fil: Solomon, K. R.. University of Guelph; Canadá Fil: Longstreth, J.. The Institute for Global Risk Research; Estados Unidos Fil: Pandey, K. K.. Institute of Wood Science and Technology; India Fil: Redhwi, H. H.. King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals; Arabia Saudita Fil: Torikai, A.. Materials Life Society of Japan; Japón Fil: Heikkilä, A. M.. Finnish Meteorological Institute R&D/Climate Research; Finlandia

The Dutch-Finnish Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) on board NASA's Aura spacecraft provides estimates of erythemal (sunburning) ultraviolet (UV) dose rates and erythemal daily doses. These data were compared with ground-based measurements at 13 stations located throughout the Arctic and Scandinavia from 60 to 83° N. The study corroborates results from earlier work, but is based on a longer time series (eight vs. two years) and considers additional data products, such as the erythemal dose rate at the time of the satellite overpass. Furthermore, systematic errors in satellite UV data resulting from inaccuracies in the surface albedo climatology used in the OMI UV algorithm are systematically assessed. At times when the surface albedo is correctly known, OMI data typically exceed ground-based measurements by 0–11%. When the OMI albedo climatology exceeds the actual albedo, OMI data may be biased high by as much as 55%. In turn, when the OMI albedo climatology is too low, OMI data can be biased low by up to 59%. Such large negative biases may occur when reflections from snow and ice, which increase downwelling UV irradiance, are misinterpreted as reflections from clouds, which decrease the UV flux at the surface. Results suggest that a better OMI albedo climatology would greatly improve the accuracy of OMI UV data products even if year-to-year differences of the actual albedo cannot be accounted for. A pathway for improving the OMI albedo climatology is discussed. Results also demonstrate that ground-based measurements from the center of Greenland, where high, homogenous surface albedo is observed year round, are ideally suited to detect systematic problems or temporal drifts in estimates of surface UV irradiance from space.

A new method has been developed to estimate the global and direct solar irradiance in the UV-A and UV-B at ground level in cloud-free conditions. It is based on a resampling technique applied to the results of the k-distribution method and the correlated-k approximation of Kato et al. (1999) over the UV band. Its inputs are the aerosol properties and total column ozone that are produced by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS). The estimates from this new method have been compared to instantaneous measurements of global UV irradiances made in cloud-free conditions at five stations at high latitudes in various climates. For the UV-A irradiance, the bias ranges between −0.8 W m−2 (−3 % of the mean of all data) and −0.2 W m−2 (−1 %). The root mean square error (RMSE) ranges from 1.1 W m−2 (6 %) to 1.9 W m−2 (9 %). The coefficient of determination R2 is greater than 0.98. The bias for UV-B is between −0.04 W m−2 (−4 %) and 0.08 W m−2 (+13 %) and the RMSE is 0.1 W m−2 (between 12 and 18 %). R2 ranges between 0.97 and 0.99. This work demonstrates the quality of the proposed method combined with the CAMS products. Improvements, especially in the modeling of the reflectivity of the Earth's surface in the UV region, are necessary prior to its inclusion into an operational tool., published version, peerReviewed

The 19 channel rotating shadow band radiometer GUVis-3511 built by Biospherical Instruments is introduced as an instrument which is able to provide automated ship borne measurements of the direct, diffuse and global spectral irradiance components without a requirement for stabilization. Several direct sun products, including spectral direct beam transmittance, aerosol optical depth, Angström exponent, and precipitable water can be derived from these observations. The individual steps of the data analysis are described, and the different sources of uncertainty are discussed. The total uncertainty of the observed direct beam transmittances is estimated to be 4.24 % at 95 % CI for ship borne operation. The calibration is identified as the dominating contribution to the total uncertainty. A comparison of direct beam transmittance with those obtained from a Cimel sun photometer at a land site and a manually operated Microtops II sun photometer on a ship is presented, yielding relative deviations of less than 3 % and 4 % on land and on ship, respectively, for most channels and in agreement with our previous uncertainty estimate. These numbers demonstrate that the instrument is well suited for ship borne operation, and the applied methods for motion correction work accurately. Based on spectral direct beam transmittance, aerosol optical depth at 510 nm can be retrieved with an uncertainty of 0.0032 for a 95 % CI. Only minor deviations occur due to the different methods used for estimating Rayleigh scattering and gas absorption optical depths, as implemented by AERONET and in our processing. Relying on the cross-calibration of the 940 nm water vapor channel with the Cimel sun photometer, the column amount of precipitable water has been estimated with an uncertainty of +−0.034 cm. More research is needed to estimate the accuracy of the instrument for low sun (solar zenith angles larger than 70°) and during periods with strong swell.

Recently Cabrol et al. (2014), hereafter C14, reported measurements of the UV Index (UVI) reaching 43.3 at a high altitude location in the Andes (Licancabur; 22.5◦ S, 67.5◦ W, 5917m a.s.l.). This value is much larger than those previously reported from other high altitude tropical locations. For example, UVI maxima reported for Mauna Loa (19.5◦ N, 155.6◦ W, 3397m a.s.l.) (Bodhaine et al., 1997; McKenzie et al., 2001), La Paz, Bolivia (16.5◦ S, 68.1◦ W, 3420m a.s.l.) (Zaratti et al., 2014), and Chile’s northern Atacama Desert (Chajnantor Plateau; 23.0◦ S, 67.8◦ W, 5100m a.s.l) (Cordero et al., 2014) are less than 26. The large UVI values measured by C14 are surprising because they would simultaneously require atmospheric conditions—specifically low total ozone amounts and cloud enhancements of UV-B radiation—that are extremely unlikely if not impossible (Seckmeyer et al., 2010). An alternative explanation of the results of C14 is that the large reported UV-B changes stem from instrument problems or data analysis issues, as will be discussed later. There are two important reasons why these measurements should be questioned and re-examined more closely

To gauge the impact of clouds on erythemal (sunburn causing) UV irradiances under different surface albedo conditions, UV measurements from two Antarctic sites (McMurdo and South Pole Stations) and a midlatitude site (Lauder, New Zealand) are examined. The surface albedo at South Pole remains high throughout the year, at McMurdo it has a strong annual cycle, and at Lauder it is low throughout the year. The measurements at each site are divided into clear and cloudy subsets and are compared with modeled clear-sky irradiances to assess the attenuation of UV by clouds. A radiative transfer model is also used to interpret the observations. Results show increasing attenuation of UV with increasing cloud optical depth, but a high surface albedo can moderate this attenuation as a result of multiple scattering between the surface and cloud base. This effect is of particular importance at high latitudes where snow may be present during the summer months. There is also a tendency toward greater cloud attenuation with increasing solar zenith angle.

The fourth North American Intercomparison of Ultraviolet Monitoring Spectroradiometers was held September 15 to 25, 1997 at Table Mountain outside of Boulder, Colorado, USA. Concern over stratospheric ozone depletion has prompted several government agencies in North America to establish networks of spectroradiometers for monitoring solar ultraviolet irradiance at the surface of the Earth. The main purpose of the Intercomparison was to assess the ability of spectroradiometers to accurately measure solar ultraviolet irradiance, and to compare the results between instruments of different monitoring networks. This Intercomparison was coordinated by NIST and NOAA, and included participants from the ASRC, EPA, NIST, NSF, SERC, USDA, and YES. The UV measuring instruments included scanning spectroradiometers, spectrographs, narrow band multi-filter radiometers, and broadband radiometers. Instruments were characterized for wavelength accuracy, bandwidth, stray-light rejection, and spectral irradiance responsivity. The spectral irradiance responsivity was determined two to three times outdoors to assess temporal stability. Synchronized spectral scans of the solar irradiance were performed over several days. Using the spectral irradiance responsivities determined with the NIST traceable standard lamp, and a simple convolution technique with a Gaussian slit-scattering function to account for the different bandwidths of the instruments, the measured solar irradiance from the spectroradiometers excluding the filter radiometers at 16.5 h UTC had a relative standard deviation of ±4 % for wavelengths greater than 305 nm. The relative standard deviation for the solar irradiance at 16.5 h UTC including the filter radiometer was ±4 % for filter functions above 300 nm.

In 2013, the vast majority of the monitored climate variables reported here maintained trends established in recent decades. ENSO was in a neutral state during the entire year, remaining mostly on the cool side of neutral with modest impacts on regional weather patterns around the world. This follows several years dominated by the effects of either La Niña or El Niño events. According to several independent analyses, 2013 was again among the 10 warmest years on record at the global scale, both at the Earths surface and through the troposphere. Some regions in the Southern Hemisphere had record or near-record high temperatures for the year. Australia observed its hottest year on record, while Argentina and New Zealand reported their second and third hottest years, respectively. In Antarctica, Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station reported its highest annual temperature since records began in 1957. At the opposite pole, the Arctic observed its seventh warmest year since records began in the early 20th century. At 20-m depth, record high temperatures were measured at some permafrost stations on the North Slope of Alaska and in the Brooks Range. In the Northern Hemisphere extratropics, anomalous meridional atmospheric circulation occurred throughout much of the year, leading to marked regional extremes of both temperature and precipitation. Cold temperature anomalies during winter across Eurasia were followed by warm spring temperature anomalies, which were linked to a new record low Eurasian snow cover extent in May. Minimum sea ice extent in the Arctic was the sixth lowest since satellite observations began in 1979. Including 2013, all seven lowest extents on record have occurred in the past seven years. Antarctica, on the other hand, had above-average sea ice extent throughout 2013, with 116 days of new daily high extent records, including a new daily maximum sea ice area of 19.57 million km2 reached on 1 October. ENSO-neutral conditions in the eastern central Pacific Ocean and a negative Pacific decadal oscillation pattern in the North Pacific had the largest impacts on the global sea surface temperature in 2013. The North Pacific reached a historic high temperature in 2013 and on balance the globally-averaged sea surface temperature was among the 10 highest on record. Overall, the salt content in nearsurface ocean waters increased while in intermediate waters it decreased. Global mean sea level continued to rise during 2013, on pace with a trend of 3.2 mm yr-1 over the past two decades. A portion of this trend (0.5 mm yr-1) has been attributed to natural variability associated with the Pacific decadal oscillation as well as to ongoing contributions from the melting of glaciers and ice sheets and ocean warming. Global tropical cyclone frequency during 2013 was slightly above average with a total of 94 storms, although the North Atlantic Basin had its quietest hurricane season since 1994. In the Western North Pacific Basin, Super Typhoon Haiyan, the deadliest tropical cyclone of 2013, had 1-minute sustained winds estimated to be 170 kt (87.5 m s-1) on 7 November, the highest wind speed ever assigned to a tropical cyclone. High storm surge was also associated with Haiyan as it made landfall over the central Philippines, an area where sea level is currently at historic highs, increasing by 200 mm since 1970. In the atmosphere, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide all continued to increase in 2013. As in previous years, each of these major greenhouse gases once again reached historic high concentrations. In the Arctic, carbon dioxide and methane increased at the same rate as the global increase. These increases are likely due to export from lower latitudes rather than a consequence of increases in Arctic sources, such as thawing permafrost. At Mauna Loa, Hawaii, for the first time since measurements began in 1958, the daily average mixing ratio of carbon dioxide exceeded 400 ppm on 9 May. The state of these variables, along with dozens of others, and the 2013 climate conditions of regions around the world are discussed in further detail in this 24th edition of the State of the Climate series. © 2014, American Meteorological Society. All rights reserved.

Spectra sampled by a UV spectroradiometer throughout the day are ratioed against a reference spectrum from the same instrument, typically the spectrum obtained at noon. The resultant ratios are a useful quality control tool that allows the detection of errors in the data acquisition of the instrument and shifts in its wavelength calibration. The method was applied to measurements of two high-quality spectroradiometers during the SUSPEN 1997 UV spectroradiometer intercomparison. Thus the wavelength calibration of both instruments was found to be stable to within ±0.01 nm. In both instruments, deficiencies were identified by this method, enabling remedial action to be taken.

Simultaneous measurements of UV irradiance have been made from two adjacent sites (47.5 deg N, 11.1 deg E) in Garmisch-Partenkirchen (730m a.s.l.) and the Zugspitze (2964m a.s.l.). New maximum erythemally weighted irradiance levels were observed in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany during March 1996 and June 1995. The March episode was associated with a polar stratospheric cloud while the June episode was associated with an unusually low total ozone column (for June) and broken clouds. The June maximum may be especially significant because it was preceded by a minimum of UV irradiance caused by heavy cloud cover, thus the absolute change in the UV irradiance was very extreme. Even though the maximum irradiance levels increased, these measurements show that the monthly mean spectral UV irradiation over Germany in 1995 was not significantly different compared to previous years. This is important because an increase in the number of extreme fluctuations from low UV irradiation followed by v ery high UV irradiation may be much more dangerous for the biosphere than a small gradual increase in average UV dose, because natural adaptation mechanisms may not be able to cope with these extreme fluctuations. The monthly erythemally weighted irradiation is between 25 and 90 per cent higher on the Zugspitze than on the lower Garmisch-Partenkirchen site. The difference between the two sites cannot be characterized by a single number because the average monthly ratio of the irradiances was very variable with respect to both time and wavelength. The variability in the differences between the two sites indicates that the differences are caused by a combination of several factors including Rayleigh scattering, cloud effects, air pollutants (e.g. tropospheric ozone), aerosols and albedo. These results show that although UV irradiation measurements from one site (e.g. Garmisch-Partenkirchen) can be used in the assessment of biological effects in the immediate neighbourhood, data from a si ngle site are not sufficient to extrapolate even to different altitudes near the measurement site and certainly should not be used to extrapolate conclusions to the atmospheric chemistry of the global troposphere.

Measurements of global spectral irradiance in the UV and visible range were carried out during December 1995 and January 1996 in Townsville, Australia (19.33°S, 146.76°E, 30 m above sea level (asl)) using the mobile spectroradiometer of the Fraunhofer Institute for Atmospheric Environmental Research, Germany. These are, to our knowledge, the first reported spectral UV measurements in the tropics of Australia. For cloudless days, the spectral measurements are consistent with results of a radiative transfer model. In the UVA, measurement and model agree within ±10% for solar elevations above 10°. In the UVB, the differences are larger (≈15% at 300 nm), which can be explained by uncertainties in the model input parameters of total ozone column and ozone absorption cross section. The variation of the daily erythemal irradiation was found to be ±24% (±1 σ) for the period of the campaign. The variation of the total ozone column contributes less than ±3% to this variability; the main part is introduced by clouds. These attenuate UV irradiation less than total irradiation (300 nm – 3000 nm); the daily total irradiation averaged over the period of the campaign was reduced by a factor of 0.71 owing to cloudiness compared to the clear-sky case while the erythemal irradiation was only diminished by a factor of 0.78. Using long-term records of total irradiation and ozone column, the parameters influencing UV radiation on Earth were found to be typical for the period and site of the campaign. The maximum erythemally weighted irradiance measured during the campaign was 429 mW/m2, and the average daily erythemal irradiation for this period was 6.06 kJ/m2. These high radiation levels were found to exceed the corresponding values for Garmisch-Partenkirchen (47.5°N, 11.0°E, 730 m asl), Germany, by between 55 and 70%. This pronounced difference in the radiation environment between Australia and Germany is explained by the higher solar elevation and the lower ozone column in the tropics.

Greatly increased levels of ultraviolet (UV) radiation were observed at thirteen Arctic and sub-Arctic ground stations in the spring of 2011 when the ozone abundance in the Arctic stratosphere dropped to the lowest amounts on record. Measurements of the noontime UV Index (UVI) during the low-ozone episode exceeded the climatological mean by up to 77% at locations in the western Arctic (Alaska, Canada, Greenland) and by up to 161% in Scandinavia. The UVI measured at the end of March at the Scandinavian sites was comparable to that typically observed 15–60 days later in the year when solar elevations are much higher. The cumulative UV dose measured during the period of the ozone anomaly exceeded the climatological mean by more than two standard deviations at 11 sites. Enhancements beyond three standard deviations were observed at seven sites and increases beyond four standard deviations at two sites. At the western sites, the episode occurred in March when the Sun was still low in the sky, limiting absolute UVI anomalies to less than 0.5 UVI units. At the Scandinavian sites, absolute UVI anomalies ranged between 1.0 and 2.2 UVI units. For example, at Finse, Norway, the noontime UVI on 30 March was 4.7 while the climatological UVI is 2.5. Although a UVI of 4.7 is still considered moderate, UV levels of this amount can lead to sunburn and photokeratitis during outdoor activity when radiation is reflected upward by snow towards the face of a person or animal. At the western sites, UV anomalies can be well explained with ozone anomalies of up to 41% below the climatological mean. At the Scandinavian sites, low ozone can only explain a UVI increase by 50–60%. The remaining enhancement was mainly caused by the absence of clouds during the low-ozone period.

Large-scale climate patterns influenced temperature and weather patterns around the globe in 2011. In particular, a moderate-to-strong La Niña at the beginning of the year dissipated during boreal spring but reemerged during fall. The phenomenon contributed to historical droughts in East Africa, the southern United States, and northern Mexico, as well the wettest two-year period (2010-11) on record for Australia, particularly remarkable as this follows a decade-long dry period. Precipitation patterns in South America were also influenced by La Niña. Heavy rain in Rio de Janeiro in January triggered the country's worst floods and landslides in Brazil's history. The 2011 combined average temperature across global land and ocean surfaces was the coolest since 2008, but was also among the 15 warmest years on record and above the 1981-2010 average. The global sea surface temperature cooled by 0.1°C from 2010 to 2011, associated with cooling influences of La Niña. Global integrals of upper ocean heat content for 2011 were higher than for all prior years, demonstrating the Earth's dominant role of the oceans in the Earth's energy budget. In the upper atmosphere, tropical stratospheric temperatures were anomalously warm, while polar temperatures were anomalously cold. This led to large springtime stratospheric ozone reductions in polar latitudes in both hemispheres. Ozone concentrations in the Arctic stratosphere during March were the lowest for that period since satellite records began in 1979. An extensive, deep, and persistent ozone hole over the Antarctic in September indicates that the recovery to pre-1980 conditions is proceeding very slowly. Atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations increased by 2.10 ppm in 2011, and exceeded 390 ppm for the first time since instrumental records began. Other greenhouse gases also continued to rise in concentration and the combined effect now represents a 30% increase in radiative forcing over a 1990 baseline. Most ozone depleting substances continued to fall. The global net ocean carbon dioxide uptake for the 2010 transition period from El Niño to La Niña, the most recent period for which analyzed data are available, was estimated to be 1.30 Pg C yr-1, almost 12% below the 29-year long-term average. Relative to the long-term trend, global sea level dropped noticeably in mid-2010 and reached a local minimum in 2011. The drop has been linked to the La Nina conditions that prevailed throughout much of 2010-11. Global sea level increased sharply during the second half of 2011. Global tropical cyclone activity during 2011 was wellbelow average, with a total of 74 storms compared with the 1981-2010 average of 89. Similar to 2010, the North Atlantic was the only basin that experienced abovenormal activity. For the first year since the widespread introduction of the Dvorak intensity-estimation method in the 1980s, only three tropical cyclones reached Category 5 intensity level-all in the Northwest Pacific basin. The Arctic continued to warm at about twice the rate compared with lower latitudes. Below-normal summer snowfall, a decreasing trend in surface albedo, and aboveaverage surface and upper air temperatures resulted in a continued pattern of extreme surface melting, and net snow and ice loss on the Greenland ice sheet. Warmerthan- normal temperatures over the Eurasian Arctic in spring resulted in a new record-low June snow cover extent and spring snow cover duration in this region. In the Canadian Arctic, the mass loss from glaciers and ice caps was the greatest since GRACE measurements began in 2002, continuing a negative trend that began in 1987. New record high temperatures occurred at 20 m below the land surface at all permafrost observatories on the North Slope of Alaska, where measurements began in the late 1970s. Arctic sea ice extent in September 2011 was the second-lowest on record, while the extent of old ice (four and five years) reached a new record minimum that was just 19% of normal. On the opposite pole, austral winter and spring temperatures were more than 3°C above normal over much of the Antarctic continent. However, winter temperatures were below normal in the northern Antarctic Peninsula, which continued the downward trend there during the last 15 years. In summer, an all-time record high temperature of -12.3°C was set at the South Pole station on 25 December, exceeding the previous record by more than a full degree. Antarctic sea ice extent anomalies increased steadily through much of the year, from briefly setting a record low in April, to well above average in December. The latter trend reflects the dispersive effects of low pressure on sea ice and the generally cool conditions around the Antarctic perimeter. © 2012 American Meteorological Society.

A comparison of spectral UV measurements between 1992 and 1993 showed increased levels of UV-B radiation in late spring and early summer of 1993 caused by reduced total ozone columns. The monthly averaged total ozone columns in 1993 were the lowest since ozone was systematically recorded in Southern Germany. The data also show that UV-A radiation was lower in 1993 than in 1992, due to differences in cloudiness between the two years. Our data demonstrate the impact of clouds and aerosols on UV-B irradiances which must be considered in addition to stratospheric ozone change when interpreting changes in UV-B irradiances.

Spectral ultraviolet (UV) irradiance has been observed near Barrow, Alaska (71° N, 157° W) between 1991 and 2011 with an SUV-100 spectroradiometer. The instrument was historically part of the US. National Science Foundation's UV Monitoring Network and is now a component of NSF's Arctic Observing Network. From these measurements, trends in monthly average irradiance and their uncertainties were calculated. The analysis focuses on two quantities, the UV Index (which is affected by atmospheric ozone concentrations) and irradiance at 345 nm (which is virtually insensitive to ozone). Uncertainties of trend estimates depend on variations in the data due to (1) natural variability, (2) systematic and random errors of the measurements, and (3) uncertainties caused by gaps in the time series. Using radiative transfer model calculations, systematic errors of the measurements were detected and corrected. Different correction schemes were tested to quantify the sensitivity of the trend estimates on the treatment of systematic errors. Depending on the correction method, estimates of decadal trends changed between 1.5% and 2.9%. Uncertainties in the trend estimates caused by error sources (2) and (3) were set into relation with the overall uncertainty of the trend determinations. Results show that these error sources are only relevant for February, March, and April when natural variability is low due to high surface albedo. This method of addressing measurement uncertainties in time series analysis is also applicable to other geophysical parameters. Trend estimates varied between −14% and +5% per decade and were significant (95.45% confidence level) only for the month of October. Depending on the correction method, October trends varied between −11.4% and −13.7% for irradiance at 345 nm and between −11.7% and −14.1% for the UV Index. These large trends are consistent with trends in short-wave (0.3–3.0 μm) solar irradiance measured with pyranometers at NOAA's Barrow Observatory and can be explained by a change in snow cover over the observation period: analysis of pyranometer data indicates that the first day of fall when albedo becomes larger than 0.6 after snow fall, and remains above 0.6 for the rest of the winter, has advanced with a statistically significant trend of 13.6 ± 9.7 days per decade.

Solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation has been measured at seven sites of the National Science Foundation’s UV Spectral Irradiance Monitoring Network (UVSIMN) for up to 20 years. Data are used to establish a UV climatology for each site and to quantify differences between sites. Most locations are at high latitudes and include the South Pole; two research stations at the Antarctic coast (McMurdo and Palmer); the city of Ushuaia at the tip of South America; the Arctic village of Barrow; and Summit, a research camp established at the top of Greenland’s ice sheet. UV levels at San Diego, California were also analyzed as an example of a lower-latitude location. The climatologies focus on the UV Index, which was derived from measured solar spectra of global irradiance. For each site and day of year, the average, median, and maximum UV Index at solar noon, as well as 10th and 90th percentile values, were calculated. Measurements were also compared with pre-ozone-hole UV levels estimated from historical measurements of total ozone. The analysis indicates a large effect of the ozone hole on the UV Index at the three Antarctic sites, and to a lesser extent at Ushuaia. UV Indices measured at South Pole during the ozone hole period (October and November) are 20% – 80% larger than measurements at comparable solar elevations during summer months. During October and November, the average UV Index between 1991 and 2006 was 55% – 85% larger than the estimate for the years 1963 – 1980. The UV Index at McMurdo shows a similar asymmetry about the solstice. In October and November, the average UV Index is about 30% – 60% higher now than it was historically. The largest UV Index ever measured at Palmer was 14.8. This value exceeds the maximum UV Index of 12.0 observed at San Diego. While the average UV Index at Ushuaia is fairly symmetrical about the solstice, maximum UV Indices as high as 11.5 have occurred in October at times when the ozone hole passed over the city. The annual cycle of UV radiation at Barrow is governed by large seasonal changes of total ozone, albedo, and cloud cover. The UV Index does not exceed 5 due to less severe ozone depletion over the Arctic: changes in UV over the last 30 years are on average less than ±8%. A comparison of UV levels at network locations reveals that differences between sites greatly depend upon the selection of the quantity used for the comparison. Average noontime UV Indices at San Diego during summer are considerably larger than noontime UV levels under the ozone hole at all Antarctic sites. The difference diminishes, however, when daily doses are compared because of the effect of 24 hours of sunlight during Antarctic summers. Data analysis further revealed that broken clouds at the South Pole can enhance spectral UV irradiance at 400 nm by up to 30% above the clear-sky value due to multiple reflections between the snow-covered surface and the cloud ceiling.

The U.S. National Science Foundation's (NSF's) Ultraviolet Spectral Irradiance Monitoring Network (UVSIMN) has been measuring global UV irradiance at seven locations in Antarctica, South America, Southern California, and the Arctic, starting in 1988. Data products include spectra of global (sun and sky) irradiance, sampled quarter-hourly between 280 and 600 nm; integrated irradiance (e.g., UV-B, UV-A); biologically effective dose-rates (e.g., the UV Index); total ozone; effective albedo; cloud optical depth; actinic flux; photoloysis rates; and complementing spectra calculated with a radiative transfer model. Data are disseminated via the project's website www.biospherical.com/NSF. During the last year, data have also been submitted to international data repositories, including (1) the World Ozone and UV Data Center (WOUDC), which is part of the World Meteorological Organization's Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW) program; (2) the Cooperative Arctic Data and Information Service (CADIS), which supports the Arctic Observing Network (AON), an NSF initiative for the International Polar Year (IPY); and (3) the SeaWiFS Bio-optical Archive and Storage System (SeaBASS), which serves NASA's calibration and validation activities for ocean-viewing satellites. We also plan to submit a subset of the dataset to (4) the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC). The main objective of NDACC is to further understanding of stratospheric changes to the troposphere. UVSIMN data have been adjusted to better serve the needs of these diverse research communities. This paper details the background, format, and volume of these new datasets.

[1] Multiband filter radiometers (MBFRs) are extensively used in national measurement networks for UV climate monitoring and for informing the public about potential health risks from excessive solar UV exposure. Results from the first international intercomparison of MBFRs, arranged in Oslo in 2005, are presented. Forty-three radiometers of type GUV, NILU-UV, and UVMFR-7 were assembled, representing monitoring stations on several continents. The first objective was to conduct a blind intercomparison of Global UV Index (UVI) processed by the instrument owners. Eleven independent data sets were compared, eight of which agreed with the reference to within ±5% and ten to within ±10%. The second objective was to provide a harmonized calibration scale for all instruments. When this scale was applied, the UVI agreed to within ±5% (2-sigma) for solar zenith angles (SZAs) up to 90°. The results demonstrate that MBFRs provide accurate UVI measurements for realistic sky conditions and a wide range of SZAs, provided the calibration functions are optimized. The harmonized UVI scale is traceable to the European QASUME reference spectroradiometer.

[1] Solar ultraviolet irradiance has been monitored in Antarctica for almost two decades by a network of spectroradiometers established by the National Science Foundation. Data have been used for investigating increases in ultraviolet radiation in response to ozone depletion, validation of satellite observations, and the establishment of ultraviolet radiation climatologies and trends. To assess the quality of data collected, measurements of the monitoring spectroradiometer installed at Arrival Heights (78°S, 167°E) were compared with an independently calibrated, state-of-the art instrument, which was installed next to the monitoring system for a three-month campaign. Measurements of the two instruments differed by 5–7% on average. The discrepancy is quantitatively explained by the different irradiance scales used by the two systems, a bias in determining the reference plane of fore-optics, drifts of calibration standards, some temperature-dependence in the transmission of the entrance optics, and nonlinearity of one of the systems. The wavelength accuracy of data from both instruments was also tested with two commonly used correlation methods. Wavelength shifts determined with the two methods agreed to within 0.003–0.006 nm. Results of the campaign suggest that data collected by the monitoring instrument are of adequate quality for submission to the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change.

The fifth North American Intercomparison of Ultraviolet Monitoring Spectroradiometers was held June 13 to 21, 2003 at Table Mountain outside of Boulder, Colorado, USA. The main purpose of the Intercomparison was to assess the ability of spectroradiometers to accurately measure solar ultraviolet irradiance, and to compare the results between instruments of different monitoring networks. This Intercomparison was coordinated by NOAA and included participants from six national and international agencies. The UV measuring instruments included scanning spectroradiometers, spectrographs, and multi-filter radiometers. Synchronized spectral scans of the solar irradiance were performed between June 16 and 20, 2003. The spectral responsivities were determined for each instrument using the participants' lamps and calibration procedures and with NOAA/CUCF standard lamps. This paper covers the scanning spectroradiometers and the one spectrograph. The solar irradiance measurements from the different instruments were deconvolved using a high resolution extraterrestrial solar irradiance and reconvolved with a 1-nm triangular band-pass to account for differences in the bandwidths of the instruments. The measured solar irradiance from the spectroradiometers using the rivmSHIC algorithm on a clear-sky day on DOY 172 at 17.0 UTC (SZA = 30°) had a relative 1-σ standard deviation of +/-2.6 to 3.4% for 300- to 360-nm using the participants' calibration.