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The ultraviolet radiation environment during an expedition across the Drake Passage and on the Antarctic Peninsula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 December 2014

Andrew Russell Open the ORCID record for Andrew Russell [Opens in a new window] ,
Manmohan Gohlan ,
Andrew Smedley  and
Martin Densham
Andrew Russell*
Affiliation:
Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK
Manmohan Gohlan
Affiliation:
Institute of Environment, Health and Societies, Brunel University London, Kingston Lane, Uxbridge, Middlesex UB8 3PH, UK
Andrew Smedley
Affiliation:
Centre for Atmospheric Science, University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK
Martin Densham
Affiliation:
British Services Antarctic Expedition, Northwood, Middlesex HA6 3HP, UK
*
andrew.russell@brunel.ac.uk
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Abstract

Polysulphone ultraviolet dosimetry badges were deployed daily during a British Services Antarctic Expedition to the Antarctic Peninsula, including a cruise period across the Drake Passage. The expedition was undertaken from 20 December 2011 to 7 March 2012. Badges were successfully analysed from 46 days of the expedition with a daily mean of 1.8 kJ m-2 erythemal daily dose (EDD) and a range of 0.3–4.3 kJ m-2 EDD. The results indicate that the ultraviolet EDD experienced was comparable to temperate, mid-latitude locations in the spring/late summer. The variability of the badge measurements was mostly consistent with observations from a local ground-based radiometer and equivalent satellite-derived products. However, such comparisons are limited by the changing location/altitude of the expedition and known biases in the satellite data. This highlights that the new dataset of exposure experienced at the Antarctic surface complements those produced by stationary ground-based instruments or satellites and, therefore, that the badge dataset brings a new element to this issue. The highest EDD values during the expedition occurred at high altitude, and the lowest EDD values occurred at low altitude and high latitude with relatively high total ozone column concentration.

Keywords

Avery PlateauBSAE 2012climate changeLoubet Coastozone depletionUV dosimetryUV erythemal daily dose
Type
Physical Sciences
Information
Antarctic Science , Volume 27 , Issue 3 , June 2015 , pp. 307 - 316
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Copyright
© Antarctic Science Ltd 2014 

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