INTRODUCTION 



C. SUSAN WEILER 



Division of Polar Programs 



National Science Foundation 



1800 G St. NW 



Washington, D.C. 20550 



WORKSHOP GOALS: 



Over the past 10 years, ozone values over the Antarctic continent have dropped 

 dramatically during the austral spring. Because ozone absorbs strongly in the 

 UV-B (280-320 nm) portion of the solar spectrum and because UV-B radiation is 

 known to be injurious to life, it is important to assess the biological 

 consequences of enhanced UV-B radiation resulting from stratospheric ozone 

 depletion. In order to inform and educate the scientific community about 

 Antarctic UV research, the National Science Foundation's Division of Polar 

 Programs and the United States Environmental Protection Agency's Environmental 

 Research Laboratory in Corvallis, Oregon co-sponsored a workshop on ultraviolet 

 radiation and biological research in Antarctica. The workshop was held in 

 Washington, D.C. on June 7-8, 1988. 



The goals of the workshop were to: provide an overview of UV-B effects on 

 organisms and UV radiation measurements for individuals interested in conducting 

 research on the consequences of enhanced UV-B radiation for Antarctic organisms 

 and personnel; describe the network the United States Antarctic Program is 

 developing for monitoring ultraviolet radiation; and provide a forum for 

 discussions among researchers interested in conducting UV research in Antarctica 

 and established UV researchers. 



The workshop began with presentations on the status of present knowledge 

 concerning biological UV effects. The presentations were followed by discussions 

 on the United States Antarctic Program's UV radiation monitoring equipment (led 

 by G.W. Harris) and UV monitoring program (led by C.R. Booth), and a tutorial and 

 discussion on UV lights, filters, and measurements for use in biological research 

 (led by M.M. Caldwell). Fifty one scientists from Australia, Chile, Argentina, 

 and a variety of U.S. research institutions and federal agencies participated in 

 the workshop, which was attended by over 70 individuals. 



To stimulate greater community awareness and provide an introduction to the field 

 of UV effects on organisms, NSF has compiled this summary of the workshop 

 presentations; an abstract and short list of key references from each talk is 

 provided. 



ULTRAVIOLET RADIATION MONITORING PROGRAM: 



While it is known that decreases in total ozone will increase the amount of UV-B 

 radiation reaching the earth's surface, models have not yet been developed that 

 can accurately predict ultraviolet radiation levels at the earth's surface for 

 high latitudes. In order to obtain direct measurements of predicted changes in 

 ultraviolet radiation levels resulting from the Antarctic "ozone hole", the 

 United States Antarctic Program (USAP) is developing a network for monitoring 

 ultraviolet radiation. Equipment systems have been installed at three Antarctic 



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