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 7/2004, issued 12/15/04 (last bulletin of 2004)
Reporting period: 11/23/04 - 12/13/04

Synopsis:
The 2004 ozone hole collapsed between 11/13/04 and 11/20/04. Total ozone amounts during the reporting period were therefore comparatively high. UV levels were similar to levels observed during this period in previous years that have underwent a similar early disappearance of the ozone hole.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
At McMurdo Station, UV levels measured during the reporting period were comparable to those observed during the same period in 2002. However, levels of both years were below the long-term mean, calculated from measurements of the last 10 years. The highest UV Index was 3.6. UV Index values as high as 7 have been observed during this period historically.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
UV levels at Palmer Station fluctuated around the long-term mean. The highest UV Index was 8.4, and was measured on 12/8/04. The average UV Index for this part of the year is 5. Indices as high as 14 have been observed historically during this period.

South Pole, Antarctica:
UV levels at South Pole were below the long-term mean. The UV Index varied between 1.6 and 2; the long-term average and all-time maximum for this period are 2 and 3.8, respectively.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
NASA Earth Probe TOMS measurements indicate that total ozone column at Ushuaia varied between 250 and 325 DU during the reporting period. These values are somewhat below the long-term mean. In turn, UV levels were above the long-term mean but some of this enhancement may also have been caused by lower-than-usual cloudiness. Maximum daily UV Indices ranged typically between 6 and 8.

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