BIOLOGICALLY RELEVANT UV RADIATION OVER ANTARCTICA 



JOHN E. FREDERICK 



Dept. Geophysical Sciences 



University of Chicago 



5734 S. Ellis Ave. 



Chicago, IL 60537 



ABSTRACT: Ozone measurements from the Nimbus 7 satellite during September and 

 October 1987 allowed estimates of the time history of biologically effective 

 radiation during the most recent "Antarctic ozone hole". Results show that 

 noontime biologically effective radiation levels over McMurdo in early October 

 reached levels similar to those characteristic of the December 21 solstice with 

 an unperturbed ozone amount. This is approximately a factor of 3 above radiation 

 levels typical of early October. Despite these large enhancements, the radiation 

 levels remain less than those normally found at low-to-middle latitudes. 



REFERENCES; 



Frederick, J.E., and D. Lubin, 1988. The budget of biologically active 

 ultraviolet radiation in the Earth-atmosphere system. J. Geophys. Res. 93: 3825- 

 3832. 



Frederick, J.E., 1985. The ultraviolet radiation environment of the biosphere. 

 In, Effects of changes in Stratospheric Ozone and Global Climate, Volume I: 

 Overview (J.G. Titus, ed.). Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, D.C., 

 pp. 121-128. 



Frederick, J.E. and H.E. Snell, 1988. Ultraviolet radiation levels during the 

 Antarctic Spring. Science 241: 438-440. 



Lubin, D., J.E. Frederick and A.J. Krueger, 198?. The ultraviolet radiation 

 environment of Antarctica: McMurdo Station during September-October 1987. J. 

 Geophys. Res., submitted (1988). 



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