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Global Climate Change Digest
A Guide to Information on Greenhouse Gases and Ozone Depletion
Published July 1988 through June 1999

FROM VOLUME 9, NUMBER 5, MAY 1996

PROFESSIONAL PUBLICATIONS...
OZONE DEPLETION: UV RADIATION

Item #d96may66

"The Effect of Volcanic Aerosols on Ultraviolet Radiation in Antarctica," S.R. Tsitas (Div. Geol. & Planet. Sci. 170-25, California Inst. Technol., Pasadena CA 91125), Y.L. Yung, Geophys. Res. Lett., 23(2), 157-160, Jan. 15, 1996.

At large solar zenith angles, volcanic aerosols can have the surprising effect of increasing the flux of UV-B reaching the surface, because of scattering. This paper provides the first rigorous and complete explanation of how this occurs, and how it is important in the Antarctic spring because of the combined effects of the spring ozone hole and the large zenith angles at that time of year.

Item #d96may67

"Atmospheric Ozone Trends and Other Factors of Surface Ultraviolet Radiation Variability," K.Y. Kondratyev (Ctr. Ecol. Safety, Russian Acad. Sci., 18 Korpusnaya St., 197042 St. Petersburg, Russia), O.M. Pokrovsky, C.A. Varotsos, Environ. Conserv., 22(3), 259-261, Autumn 1995.

Surveys the potential effects of total ozone variability and related UV-B radiation changes, with the ultimate goal of medium-range prediction of both quantities by, for instance, statistical techniques. Summarizes research needed to achieve this goal.

Item #d96may68

"Consequences of Climate Warming and Lake Acidification for UV-B Penetration in North American Boreal Lakes," D.W. Schindler (Dept. Biol. Sci., Univ. Alberta, Edmonton AB T6G 2E9, Can.), P.J. Curtis et al., Nature, 379(6567), 705-707, Feb. 22, 1996.

Observations from 20 years of whole-lake acidification experiments in northwestern Ontario show that climate warming and lake acidification both lead to declines in the dissolved organic content of lake waters, allowing increased penetration of solar radiation. Some changes in aquatic ecosystems that have been attributed to lake acidification may in fact have involved increased exposure to UV light. In clear, shallow waters, climate warming and/or acidification can be more effective than stratospheric ozone depletion in raising the exposure of aquatic organisms to biologically effective UV radiation.

Item #d96may69

"Ozone Depletion: A View from the Grass Roots," N.D. Paul (Inst. Environ. & Biol. Sci., Lancaster Univ., Lancaster LA1 4YQ, UK), Atmos. Environ., 30(14), i-ii, July 1996. (A contribution to the journal's "New Directions" section. Submissions, 1000 words or less, can be e-mailed to NEW.DIRECTIONS@UEA.AC.UK.)

A biologist decries the lack of understanding of the ecological effects of increased levels of UV-B. Without such information, how can scientists hope to continue to convince legislators (or themselves) that the only safe option is the no-risk strategy of phasing out ozone-depleting substances?