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 2/2004, issued 9/27/04
Reporting period: 9/13/04 - 9/26/04

Synopsis:
The 2004 ozone hole lead to increased UV levels at all austral network sites. According to NASA's Earth Probe TOMS satellite, the total ozone column at Ushuaia dropped to 171 DU on 9/21/04, causing the noon-time UV Index to double from 2.2 (9/17/04) to 4.4 (9/20/04). Absolute UV levels at Antarctic sites are still low (UV Index < 3.5) due to small solar elevations.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
UV levels at McMurdo Station remained below the long-term average for this part of the year. The maximum UV Index observed during the last two weeks was 0.9.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Total ozone values at Palmer Station were below 200 DU from 9/15/04 onward. The UV Index increased during the reporting period from approximately 1.5 to 3.3. These values are still low compared to typical summer-time values of 8-10.

South Pole, Antarctica:
UV levels are still very small as the Sun has just risen at the South Pole.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
Total ozone values at Ushuaia dropped to <200 DU between 9/20/04 and 9/23/04 when the ozone hole extended to South America. UV levels during this period exceeded measurements from previous years with the exception of the years 1992 and 2000, when UV levels were similarly high. The noon-time UV Index doubled from 2.2 (9/17/04) to 4.4 (9/20/04). These values are still low compared to typical summer-time values of 8.

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