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Solar ultraviolet radiation, modelling, measurements and effects
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Pergamon
All nghts
1998 Elsevm Sconce Ltd reserved. Printed in Great Bntain 136+6826/98 $19 OO+O.OO
Book Reviews about 40%. During the summer months the maximum as well as the average daily doses at the south pole exceed those measured at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere. Due to the large differences in latitude, large differences of UV radiation can be also expected within Europe. This paper presents two methods of deriving geographical differences of UV irradiances, one using data from one instrument run at different sites, the other using measurements from different instruments at one site.”
PII: S1364-6826(97)001004 Solar Ultraviolet Radiation, Modelling, Measurements and Effects, Zerefos, C. S. and Bais, A. F. (Eds), NATO ASI Series, Series I: Global Environmental Change, Vol. 52,1997, 336 pp. Springer-Verlag, DM 198, hb, ISBN 3-540-6271 l-l. This book of 24 papers arises from a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Greece in October 1995. P. C. Simon reviews current knowledge of the extraterrestrial solar irradiance (at wavelengths from 200 to 350 nm), and I. S. A. lsaksen reviews stratospheric ozone depletion and UV-B changes. Modelling the transmission of the atmosphere in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum is covered in three papers (by S. Madronich and S. Flocke, K. Stammes and J. DeLuisi). G. Brasseur and X. X. Tie review numerical models of the stratospheric ozone distribution, and C. Zerefos discusses the factors influencing the transmission of solar ultraviolet radiation through the atmosphere. Measurements below the sea surface (to depths of 40 m) are presented by G. A. Hansen et al. and G. Seckmeyer ef a/. present an interesting paper, the abstract of which is as follows:
Other papers published here discuss the calibration of, and results obtained by, UV spectra-radiometers operating at the earth’s surface. UV radiation dosimeter results, and the awareness by samples of the population of the risks associated with sunbathing, are discussed by B. L. Diffey. The effects of UV-B radiation on plants and on marine ecosystems are also covered. Finally, several papers discuss various measurement programmes around the world on UV radiation and their effects, and R. J. Bojkov considers possible climate implications of ozone changes at different locations. This is an especially timely and wide-ranging book. Michael J. Rycroft International Space University France
“The continuous negative trend in total ozone column measured in the past 20 years has inspired research on its consequences. It is now very likely that severe depletions of ozone observed especially during 19911995 over the northern hemisphere will remain a problem at least until the first decades of the next century. There is overwhelming experimental evidence that, all other atmospheric (and ground) variables being constant, decreases in atmospheric ozone result in UVB increases at the Earth’s surface, in quantitative agreement with predictions of radiative transfer models. However, it must be noted that stratospheric ozone is not the only component that influences UV-B irradiances at the ground level. Tropospheric ozone and aerosols can reduce global UV-B irradiances appreciably, whereas high albedo can enhance global UV-B irradiances. The variability of clouds and their influence on UV-B irradiance further complicate the detection of UV-B changes at the ground level. Only a few studies have monitored UV-B over time scales of decades, and these have yielded conflicting results on the magnitude and even the sign of trends. Some studies may have been affected by problems with instrument instability and calibration, and local pollution trends. The establishment of trends in solar UV radiation is not the only way to investigate the consequences of solar UV radiation. The natural and man-made differences in stratispheric and tropospheric ozone have led to measurable differences in solar UV radiation at different locations. Clear-sky UV measurements in midlatitudinal locations of the southern hemisphere are significantly larger than in the northern hemisphere, in agreement with the expected differences due to different ozone columns and sun-earth distance. Taking into account all observing conditions including cloudy skies, the erythemally weighted irradiation at a typical midlatitudinal southern hemispheric site exceeds the UV levels at a corresponding northern hemisphere site by
PII: S1364-6826(97)001014 Photo-oxidants, Acidification and Tools: Policy Applications of EUROTRAC Results, Borrell, P., Builtjes, P. J. H., Grennfelt, P. and Hov, 0 (Eds), 1997, 216 pp. Springer-Verlag, DM 128, hb, ISBN 3-540-61783-3. Major environmental concerns in the troposphere are the increasing concentrations of photo-oxidants, the acidification of soils and water, and changes to the nutrient input to ecosystems. Results on these scientific topics investigated in the EUROTRAC program in Europe are presented in ways that may be used by environmental planners and managers. Chapter 1 is a type of Executive Summary of the EUROTRAC Application Project which assimilated the scientific results so as to be suitable for practical use. It covers the rapid increase in tropospheric ozone from the 1950s to the 1980s associated with increased emissions of the oxides of nitrogen and of volatile organic compounds, both biogenic and anthropogenic. Models have been developed. Sulphur and nitrogen deposition cause severe damage to ecosystems; sulphur dioxide oxidation in clouds-where nonlinearities occur-is important. Anthropogenic sulphate aerosols in the free troposphere counteract global warming. Some remaining uncertainties are listed. Chapter 2 details environmental problems and policies, and the EUROTRAC project itself. Chapter 3 is on photooxidants. Chapter 4 on acidification and deposition of nutrients, and Chapter 5 on how EUROTRAC has helped to study environmentally relevant trace constituents. Formal project descriptions are outlined in appendices. Michael J. Rycroft International Space University France 401
Pergamon
All nghts
1998 Elsevm Sconce Ltd reserved. Printed in Great Bntain 136+6826/98 $19 OO+O.OO
Book Reviews about 40%. During the summer months the maximum as well as the average daily doses at the south pole exceed those measured at mid-latitudes in the northern hemisphere. Due to the large differences in latitude, large differences of UV radiation can be also expected within Europe. This paper presents two methods of deriving geographical differences of UV irradiances, one using data from one instrument run at different sites, the other using measurements from different instruments at one site.”
PII: S1364-6826(97)001004 Solar Ultraviolet Radiation, Modelling, Measurements and Effects, Zerefos, C. S. and Bais, A. F. (Eds), NATO ASI Series, Series I: Global Environmental Change, Vol. 52,1997, 336 pp. Springer-Verlag, DM 198, hb, ISBN 3-540-6271 l-l. This book of 24 papers arises from a NATO Advanced Study Institute held in Greece in October 1995. P. C. Simon reviews current knowledge of the extraterrestrial solar irradiance (at wavelengths from 200 to 350 nm), and I. S. A. lsaksen reviews stratospheric ozone depletion and UV-B changes. Modelling the transmission of the atmosphere in the ultraviolet part of the spectrum is covered in three papers (by S. Madronich and S. Flocke, K. Stammes and J. DeLuisi). G. Brasseur and X. X. Tie review numerical models of the stratospheric ozone distribution, and C. Zerefos discusses the factors influencing the transmission of solar ultraviolet radiation through the atmosphere. Measurements below the sea surface (to depths of 40 m) are presented by G. A. Hansen et al. and G. Seckmeyer ef a/. present an interesting paper, the abstract of which is as follows:
Other papers published here discuss the calibration of, and results obtained by, UV spectra-radiometers operating at the earth’s surface. UV radiation dosimeter results, and the awareness by samples of the population of the risks associated with sunbathing, are discussed by B. L. Diffey. The effects of UV-B radiation on plants and on marine ecosystems are also covered. Finally, several papers discuss various measurement programmes around the world on UV radiation and their effects, and R. J. Bojkov considers possible climate implications of ozone changes at different locations. This is an especially timely and wide-ranging book. Michael J. Rycroft International Space University France
“The continuous negative trend in total ozone column measured in the past 20 years has inspired research on its consequences. It is now very likely that severe depletions of ozone observed especially during 19911995 over the northern hemisphere will remain a problem at least until the first decades of the next century. There is overwhelming experimental evidence that, all other atmospheric (and ground) variables being constant, decreases in atmospheric ozone result in UVB increases at the Earth’s surface, in quantitative agreement with predictions of radiative transfer models. However, it must be noted that stratospheric ozone is not the only component that influences UV-B irradiances at the ground level. Tropospheric ozone and aerosols can reduce global UV-B irradiances appreciably, whereas high albedo can enhance global UV-B irradiances. The variability of clouds and their influence on UV-B irradiance further complicate the detection of UV-B changes at the ground level. Only a few studies have monitored UV-B over time scales of decades, and these have yielded conflicting results on the magnitude and even the sign of trends. Some studies may have been affected by problems with instrument instability and calibration, and local pollution trends. The establishment of trends in solar UV radiation is not the only way to investigate the consequences of solar UV radiation. The natural and man-made differences in stratispheric and tropospheric ozone have led to measurable differences in solar UV radiation at different locations. Clear-sky UV measurements in midlatitudinal locations of the southern hemisphere are significantly larger than in the northern hemisphere, in agreement with the expected differences due to different ozone columns and sun-earth distance. Taking into account all observing conditions including cloudy skies, the erythemally weighted irradiation at a typical midlatitudinal southern hemispheric site exceeds the UV levels at a corresponding northern hemisphere site by
PII: S1364-6826(97)001014 Photo-oxidants, Acidification and Tools: Policy Applications of EUROTRAC Results, Borrell, P., Builtjes, P. J. H., Grennfelt, P. and Hov, 0 (Eds), 1997, 216 pp. Springer-Verlag, DM 128, hb, ISBN 3-540-61783-3. Major environmental concerns in the troposphere are the increasing concentrations of photo-oxidants, the acidification of soils and water, and changes to the nutrient input to ecosystems. Results on these scientific topics investigated in the EUROTRAC program in Europe are presented in ways that may be used by environmental planners and managers. Chapter 1 is a type of Executive Summary of the EUROTRAC Application Project which assimilated the scientific results so as to be suitable for practical use. It covers the rapid increase in tropospheric ozone from the 1950s to the 1980s associated with increased emissions of the oxides of nitrogen and of volatile organic compounds, both biogenic and anthropogenic. Models have been developed. Sulphur and nitrogen deposition cause severe damage to ecosystems; sulphur dioxide oxidation in clouds-where nonlinearities occur-is important. Anthropogenic sulphate aerosols in the free troposphere counteract global warming. Some remaining uncertainties are listed. Chapter 2 details environmental problems and policies, and the EUROTRAC project itself. Chapter 3 is on photooxidants. Chapter 4 on acidification and deposition of nutrients, and Chapter 5 on how EUROTRAC has helped to study environmentally relevant trace constituents. Formal project descriptions are outlined in appendices. Michael J. Rycroft International Space University France 401