Previous UV Bulletin

UV bulletins are short reports on current UV levels at NSF network locations. They are posted bi-weekly between September and December when the "ozone hole" is affecting UV levels at our Austral sites.

Bulletin 7/2003, issued 12/10/03 (last bulletin of 2003)
Reporting period: 11/25/03 - 12/9/03

Synopsis:
Areas with total ozone below 220 DU were still present during the reporting period and were affecting UV levels at NSF stations and Ushuaia. At Palmer Station, UV peaked on 11/26/03, when total ozone dropped to 205 DU. At the South Pole and at McMurdo Station, UV peaked on 12/4/03 and 12/8/03, when total ozone was 215 and 225 DU, respectively. At Ushuaia, very high UV levels were observed between 11/26/03 and 11/28/03, when a pocket of ozone depleted air moved over the city. UV Indices observed during these days were the highest of the season for all four sites. As of 12/10/03, this year's ozone hole has closed and we do not expect increased UV levels at the network sites for the remainder of the austral summer.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
UV levels measured at McMurdo displayed a large variation during the reporting period. The maximum daily UV Index ranged between 2.5 (11/30/03 and 12/1/03) and 5.8 (12/8/03), when an area of ozone depleted air moved over McMurdo. The highest UV Index historically observed at McMurdo was 7.4, and was measured on 11/28/98.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
UV levels at Palmer Station were somewhat above the long-term mean and peaked on 11/26/03, when total ozone dropped to 205 DU. The maximum daily UV Index ranged between 5.2 and 9.3. The long-term average and highest UV Index historically observed during this period are 5.6 and 14.3, respectively.

South Pole, Antarctica:
UV levels measured at the South Pole were below the long-term mean, except on 12/4/03, when an area of ozone depleted air moved over the South Pole. The UV Index ranged between 1.7 and 2.5. Long-term average and maximum UV Index for the reporting period are 2.2 and 3.9, respectively.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
UV levels measured at Ushuaia were somewhat above the long-term mean, and spiked on 11/27/03 and 11/28/03, when Ushuaia became under the influence of the ozone hole. The maximum daily UV Index ranged between 5.3 and 10.5; the long-term average is 6.3. The UV Index was 10.5 on 11/27/03, which is only slightly lower than the historic record UV Index for the reporting period of 10.9. The overall record UV Index for Ushuaia is 11.7 and was measured on 10/18/00.

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