Solar uv radiation : ozone impacts and monitoring strategies

Abstract

It is now well established that atmospheric ozone is declining, that solar UV radiation must increase, and that there are negative effects of solar UV radiation on humans, plants and marine organisms. These issues are reviewed, with emphasis on the physics of solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation, its natural variations and its measurement, and on the importance of spectral variation in both incident radiation and response sensitivity. Specific consideration is given to the tropical context. Very little research and monitoring has been done in the tropics, yet the total amount of solar UV increase is as great in the tropics as at higher latitudes. It is argued that attention should focus on the effects of existing solar UV amounts, which are much greater than the changes due to ozone depletion. International monitoring of ozone is well established, but there is nothing comparable for solar UV, despite it being the key factor in the public health aspects of the ozone problem. The reasons for poor solar UV instrumentation and inadequate solar UV data are discussed, and a strategy for global monitoring of solar UV radiation is recommended.