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 6/2007, issued 12/12/07
Reporting period: 11/21/07 - 12/12/07

Synopsis:
This year's ozone hole is now breaking up and no significant increases in UV are expected at network sites for the remainder of the year. On 10 and 11-December, total ozone at the South Pole was below 200 DU, which is unprecedented for this late in the year. The UV Index was larger than 3 on the two days, which is a new record for this period. UV intensities at McMurdo mostly fluctuated about the climatological mean. UV levels at Palmer peaked on 22-November; the UV Index was 9.2. This is a new record for this day. Ushuaia was not directly affected by the ozone hole, but the UV Index on 23-November climbed to 9.2, when total ozone dropped to 245 DU.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
McMurdo Station was outside the core area of the ozone hole; total ozone was below 250 DU on December 3 and 4 only. UV intensities were below the long-term mean until 24 November and fluctuated about the mean thereafter. One exception is December 3, when UV levels were elevated. The maximum daily UV Index during the reporting period ranged between 2.7 and 5.2. The climatological mean for the period is 4.0. UV Indices as high has 7.4 have been observed in late November historically.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Palmer Station was affected by the ozone hole only up to 24-November. UV intensities peaked on 22-November. The UV Index was 9.2, which set a new record for this day. UV levels for the remainder of the period were generally below the long-term mean. Maximum daily UV Indices ranged between 2.8 and 6.0; the climatological mean is 5.3. UV Indices as high has 14.3 have been observed during the reporting period historically.

South Pole, Antarctica:
The South Pole moved in and out the ozone hole area and total ozone varied between 180 and 270 DU. Total ozone was below 200 DU on 10 and 11-December, which is unprecedented for this late in the year. UV levels showed large variations, which were anti-correlated with ozone. The UV Index varied between 1.7 and 3.4. The latter value was observed on 11-December. This is the first year in the history of the network that the influence of the ozone hole on UV has been observed after 6-December at the South Pole. Historically, the largest UV Index measured during the second week of December was 2.8, and the climatological mean is 2.0.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
Ushuaia was outside the core area of the ozone hole. UV intensities peaked on 23-November when the edge of the hole came close to the city and total ozone dropped to 245 DU. The maximum UV Index on this day was 9.2. Elevated UV intensities were also observed on 6-December, when total ozone was below 300 DU and the UV Index rose to 8.7. UV intensities varied about the long-term mean for the remainder of the period with maximum daily UV Indices varying between 3.7 and 8.0. The climatological mean is 6.3. UV Indices as high as 11.6 have been observed during this period historically.

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