The distribution of erythemal (skin-reddening) ultraviolet radiation at the Earth's surface is derived from satellite-based observations of atmospheric ozone and cloud reflectivity. This climatology may be helpful in assessing the role of long-term enviromental exposure to ultraviolet radiation, e.g., in epidemiological studies of cancer.
Total ozone and cloud/aerosol reflectivity at 380 nm were taken from the Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (Nimbus-7, Level 3/v.7) from Jan. 1979 to Dec. 1992, at a geographical resolution of 1.25 longitude by 1.00 latitude. Total ozone was used as input to the Tropospheric Ultraviolet-Visible(TUV) model, the effect of clouds was considered in a second step. Spectral irradiance F(lamba) at the Earth's surface was calculated every 30 minutes (1979-92) at 1nm steps from 280 to 400 nm, using a 4 stream discrete ordinates method with pseudo-spherical correction for improved accuracy at low sun.
Erythema Data/Figure for a single point.
Erythema Figures.
Erythema Download Data Area.
Acknowledgments
This work was supported by the Department of Energy through grant DE-A 105-94ER61879 to NCAR. B.M. was supported by a research grant from the German Academic Exchange Service(DAAD). The National Center for Atmospheric Research is sponsored by the National Science Foundation.
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Last updated December 22nd, 1999.