Latest 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 2/2008, issued 10/07/08
Reporting period: 9/12/08 - 10/07/08

Synopsis:
McMurdo, Palmer and South Pole were affected by the ozone hole during the entire reporting period. Ushuaia was only affected on 5-October. UV intensities at McMurdo and South Pole varied about the long-term mean. UV levels at Palmer were significantly below the climatological mean until 29-September, and above the mean thereafter. Unusually high UV intensities for early October were observed at Ushuaia on 5-October when the UV Index was 5.7.

McMurdo Station, Antarctica:
McMurdo Station was affected by the ozone hole during the entire period: total ozone varied between 140 and 200 DU according to OMI and GUV measurements. UV levels varied about the long-term mean, which was calculated from measurements of the last 18 years. The maximum daily UV Index gradually increased from 0.4 on 12-September (solar elevation of 8°) to 1.6 on 7-October (solar elevation of 17°). UV intensities will increase further as the Sun continues to rise.

Palmer Station, Antarctica:
Palmer Station was close to the perimeter of the ozone hole until 29-September; total ozone varied between 160 and 270 DU. Between 30-September and 7-October, Palmer Station was within the core region of the ozone hole and total ozone was about 150 DU. Between 19 and 29 September, UV levels were well below the long-term mean: the average noontime UV Index for that period was 1.3 while the climatological mean is 2.6. Between 30-September and 7-October, UV intensities were larger than the long-term mean; the noontime UV Index was as high as 5.7. UV Indices larger than 6.5 have been observed during this period historically.

South Pole, Antarctica:
The solar elevation at South Pole was still below 6° and UV levels were therefore still very low. The maximum UV Index was 0.4.

Ushuaia, Argentina:
Ushuaia was generally outside the ozone hole area; total ozone varied between 230 and 340 DU. One exception was 5-October when the edge of the ozone hole passed over Ushuaia. UV levels varied about the climatological mean with the exception of 5-October, when the maximum daily UV Index was 7.8. This value is almost twice as large than the UV Index of 4.0 measured one day earlier, but it is still below the historical record value for the first week of October of 9.2.

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