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Low Ozone Over Southern Australia in August 2011 and its Impact on Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Levels
Citation
Gies, P and Klekociuk, A and Tully, M and Henderson, S and Javorniczky, J and King, K and Lemus-Deschamps, L and Makin, J, Low Ozone Over Southern Australia in August 2011 and its Impact on Solar Ultraviolet Radiation Levels, Photochemistry and Photobiology, 89, (4) pp. 984-994. ISSN 0031-8655 (2013) [Refereed Article]
Copyright Statement
© 2013 The American Society of Photobiology and Commonwealth of Australia
Abstract
During August 2011 stratospheric ozone over much of Southern
Australia dropped to very low levels (approximately
265 Dobson Units) for over a week above major population
centers. The weather during this low ozone period was
mostly clear and sunny, resulting in measured solar ultraviolet
radiation (UVR) levels up to 40% higher than normal,
with UV Index > 3 despite being winter. Satellite ozone measurements
and meteorological assimilated data indicate that
the event was likely due in large part to the anomalous
southward movement over Australia of ozone-poor air in the
lower stratosphere originating from tropical latitudes. At the
time, a study measuring the UVR exposures of outdoor
workers in Victoria was underway and a number of the
workers recorded substantial UVR exposures and were sunburnt.
Given the cities and populations involved (approximately
10 million people), it is likely that many people could
have been exposed to anomalously high levels of solar UVR
for that time of year, with resultant higher UVR exposures
and sunburns to unacclimatized skin (often a problem transitioning
from low winter to higher spring UVR levels).
Reporting procedures have been modified to utilize ozone
forecasts to warn the public of anomalously high UVR levels
in the future.
Item Details
Item Type: | Refereed Article |
---|---|
Keywords: | Sunburn, sun protection |
Research Division: | Earth Sciences |
Research Group: | Climate change science |
Research Field: | Climatology |
Objective Division: | Health |
Objective Group: | Public health (excl. specific population health) |
Objective Field: | Behaviour and health |
UTAS Author: | Makin, J (Ms Jen Makin) |
ID Code: | 103573 |
Year Published: | 2013 |
Web of Science® Times Cited: | 6 |
Deposited By: | Menzies Institute for Medical Research |
Deposited On: | 2015-10-16 |
Last Modified: | 2017-10-30 |
Downloads: | 0 |
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