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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 3/2008, issued 11/05/08
Reporting period: 10/08/08 - 11/04/08

Synopsis:
McMurdo and Palmer were both inside and outside the ozone hole area. This led to very large variability in UV radiation: the daily maximum UV Index varied between 1.4 and 4.8 at McMurdo and between 1.1 and 9.0 at Palmer. South Pole was affected by the ozone hole during the entire reporting period; the UV Index fluctuated about the climatological mean. The edge of the ozone hole passed twice over Ushuaia. On 28 October, the daily maximum UV Index was 10.6, which is only slightly below the all-time October record of 10.9.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
The center of ozone hole was shifted toward the Atlantic Ocean, away from McMurdo Station, during most the reporting period. As a consequence, total ozone column at McMurdo was larger than 220 DU between 15 and 19 October and 24 and 30 October. UV levels varied about the long-term mean, which was calculated from measurements of the last 18 years. The maximum daily UV Index in October was between 1.4 and 3.1. On 3 and 4 November, total ozone dropped below 200 DU and the UV Index peaked at 4.8. UV Indices as high as 6 have been measured in early November historically.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Palmer Station was both inside and outside the ozone hole area, which led to a large variation in total ozone: measurements by OMI and the station's GUV radiometer varied between 140 and 371 DU, and this variability had a large effect on UV intensities. Between 10 and 16 October, the maximum daily UV Index was below 3.7. On 19 and 21 October, total ozone dropped below 180 DU and the UV Index peaked at 7.5. The largest UV intensities were observed on 28 October when total ozone was 160 DU and the UV Index was 9.0. During the last two weeks of October, the daily maximum UV Index is typically between 4 and 5, but values a high as 11 have been observed historically.

South Pole, Antarctica:
South Pole was below the ozone hole during the entire reporting period. Total ozone was between 114 and 182 DU. UV intensities varied about the long-term mean and steadily increased from day to day as the Sun rose higher in the sky. UV Indices increased from 0.4 on 8 October to 1.6 on 2 November. The highest UV Index observed historically at the beginning of November was 2.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
The edge of the ozone hole passed over Ushuaia on 21 and 28 October. Total ozone dropped below 210 DU on both occasions. This led to large spikes in UV radiation. On the other hand, total ozone was larger than 300 DU between 10-16 October, 23-26 October, and 30 October - 4 November. UV intensities generally remained below the long-term mean for these periods. The maximum daily UV Index varied between 1.5 on 10 October and 10.6 on 28 October. The latter value is close to the all-time record for October of 10.9, which was observed on 18 October 2000. The climatological mean UV Index for October is 4.2.

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