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 5/2005, issued 11/15/05
Reporting period: 10/25/05 - 11/15/05

Synopsis:
During the last three weeks, the ozone hole has decreased substantially in depth and size. Until 11/9/05, the ozone hole led to enhanced UV radiation levels at the three Antarctic sites McMurdo Station, Palmer Station, and South Pole. After 11/10/05, total ozone markedly increased at all sites, leading to clear reductions of UV levels. Ushuaia was outside the ozone hole region during the reporting period but a drop in total ozone to 225 DU on 11/8/05 lead to a spike in UV.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
McMurdo Station was located close to the edge of the ozone hole until 11/5/05. This position led to considerable day-to-day variability in UV; the maximum daily UV Index varied between 2.0 and 3.6. After 11/6/05, total ozone increased to values larger than 330 DU and the maximum daily UV Index remained below 2.4.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Palmer Station was outside the area of the ozone hole during the last week of October. Between 10/24/05 and 10/29/05, the noon-time UV Index remained below 3.2. UV levels increased significantly when the station became affected by the ozone hole between 10/31/05 and 11/9/05. Daily maximum UV Indices during this period varied between 6 and 9. After 11/10/05, total ozone increased to values larger than 300 DU and UV levels dropped sharply; the maximum daily UV Index remained below 5.5. UV Indices as high as 13 have historically been measured during the first two weeks of November.

South Pole, Antarctica:
Total ozone at the South Pole remained below 199 DU until 11/9/05, according to Earth Probe TOMS. Until that day, UV levels increased from day to day as the Sun moved higher in the sky. The UV Index gradually changed from 1.0 to 1.8. From 11/10/05 onward, the South Pole was no longer under the ozone hole, UV levels dropped markedly, and the maximum daily UV Index remained below 1.3

Ushuaia, Argentina:
Ushuaia was close to the edge of the ozone hole on 11/2/05 and between 11/5/05 and 11/9/05. During these periods, UV levels were significantly above the long-term mean calculated from measurements of the last 14 years. The daily maximum UV Index varied between 2.2 (10/27/05) and 8.5 (11/8/05).

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