Behavior of solar ultraviolet irradiance at high southern latitudes over a decadal timescale

John E Frederick; Yixiang Liao

doi:10.1117/12.504582

4 November 2003 Behavior of solar ultraviolet irradiance at high southern latitudes over a decadal timescale

John E Frederick, Yixiang Liao

Proceedings Volume 5156, Ultraviolet Ground- and Space-based Measurements, Models, and Effects III; (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.504582
Event: Optical Science and Technology, SPIE's 48th Annual Meeting, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Continuous measurements of solar ultraviolet spectral irradiance exist for four sites in the high latitude Southern Hemisphere, from 55° to 90° South, and span a time period in excess of a decade. This database allows comprehensive analyses of variability in ground-level radiation over a wide range of time scales. The behavior of irradiances within a single month reflects the combined influences of changing solar elevations, cloudiness and ozone amounts. Histograms assembled for corresponding months over the decadal time scale reveal maximum instantaneous irradiances that can vary by a factor of two or more among different years. An important portion of each year encompasses the months from October through December. The annual ozone loss develops during this period, and in some years this is sufficiently dramatic to distort the seasonal cycle in erythemal irradiance expected solely on the basis of solar elevation. Under unperturbed conditions, the largest monthly-integrated irradiances would occur in December at all wavelengths from 290 to 400 nm. However, in years of unusually low springtime ozone amounts the maximum monthly-integrated erythemal irradiances can appear in November.

Citation Download Citation

John E Frederick and Yixiang Liao "Behavior of solar ultraviolet irradiance at high southern latitudes over a decadal timescale", Proc. SPIE 5156, Ultraviolet Ground- and Space-based Measurements, Models, and Effects III, (4 November 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.504582

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available