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 2/2006, issued 10/6/06
Reporting period: 9/20/06 - 10/5/06

Synopsis:
UV levels remained low to moderate during the reporting period since solar elevations are still small. The ozone hole affected UV radiation at all austral network sites. Ushuaia was influenced on 10/4/06 only. UV intensities generally fell within the range established by measurements of the last 16 years. UV Indices at all austral sites remained below 6.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
UV levels at McMurdo Station were low because solar elevations remained below 17°. The station was inside the ozone hole area up to 9/30/06. During the first four days of October, the edge of the vortex moved over McMurdo and total ozone columns up to 300 DU were measured by the site's GUV radiometer. The large change in total ozone is reflected in UV intensities: the maximum daily UV Index was 1.4 (measured on 9/29/06, when total ozone was 160 DU) and fell to 0.7 on 10/3/06, when total ozone was 300 DU. The maximum UV Index observed historically during this time of the year was 1.8.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Palmer Station was located inside the area of the ozone hole, with the exception of 9/27/06 and 9/28/06, when the site's GUV radiometer measured 280 DU. Up to 10/2/06, UV levels varied about the long-term average calculated from historic measurements. The maximum daily UV Index ranged between 1.5 (9/26/06) and 3.8 (10/2/06) during this period. UV intensities spiked on 10/4/06 (UV Index = 5.8) when total ozone dropped to 140 DU. Long-term mean and maximum UV Indices for this period are 2.8 and 6.8, respectively.

South Pole, Antarctica:
The Sun at the South Pole was less than 5° above the horizon. UV levels remained very small but compared well to measurements of previous years. The maximum UV Index was 0.3.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
Ushuaia remained outside the ozone hole area during the reporting period, with the exception of 10/4/06, when total ozone dropped below 220 DU. UV intensities varied about the long-term average and no conspicuous spikes in UV were observed. The maximum daily UV Index ranged between 1.5 (measured on 9/26/06, when cloud cover was heavy) and 5.0 (measured on 10/4/06, when total ozone dropped to about 205 DU). The peak on 10/4/06 was mitigated by clouds. Typical summer-time UV Indices are about 8.

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