UV Spectroradiometric Monitoring in Polar Regions

In 1987, the United States National Science Foundation, Office of Polar Programs, called for the development of a monitoring network for UV irradiance in Antarctica. This network was established in 1988 and presently consists of six monitoring stations: three in Antarctica, one at Ushuaia, Argentina, one at Barrow, Alaska, and a system at San Diego, California. High-resolution (0.7 nm) spectral scans are made hourly and the data is routinely distributed to scientists around the world on CD-ROM and by other means. Details of the design and implementation of the network along with examples of the data are presented.