COLLECTION AND DISTRIBUTION OF DATA FROM 

 THE UNITED STATES ANTARCTIC PROGRAM'S UV MONITORING NETWORK 



C. ROCKY BOOTH 



Biospherical Instruments, Inc. 



4901 Morena Blvd. Suite 1003 



San Diego, CA 92117 



C. SUSAN WEILER 

 POLLY A. PENHALE 



Division of Polar Programs 



National Science Foundation 



1800 G St. NW 



Washington, D.C. 20550 



Ozone levels over the Antarctic continent have decreased dramatically over the 

 past decade; 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 UV-B 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 the three 

 Antarctic locations, and a system is planned for installation at Ushuaia, 

 Argentina. The network, which will span 35 degrees of latitude, was chosen to 

 include stations located within and outside the "ozone hole" region: 



AMUNDSEN-SCOTT SOUTH POLE STATION 

 Mc MURDD STATION 

 PALMER STATION 

 USHUAIA, ARGENTINA 



The USAP's UV monitoring network will be coordinated through C.R. Booth. The 

 equipment is scheduled for operation throughout the austral spring, summer and 

 autumn to document changes in UV-B resulting from seasonal changes in ozone 

 concentration. The final sampling schedule has not yet been established; 

 tentative plans are as follows: 



DATA COLLECTION: The preliminary sampling schedule is planned to include hourly 

 scans during daylight hours at three levels of sensitivity: 



SENSITIVITY WAVELENGTH RANGE STEP SIZE 



high 280 - 315 nm 0.2 nm 



medium 280 - 350 nm 0.5 nm 



low 280 - 700 nm 5.0 nm 



Calibration scans for wavelength and intensity will be taken daily. The 

 spectroradiometers will be interfaced with Eppley UV radiometers (290-385 nm) and 

 Eppley spectral radiometers (300-3000 nm) to account for transient changes in 

 cloud cover which may occur during the time it takes to complete 

 spectroradiometer scans (ca. 10 min./scan). 



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