Abstract
Temporal variability in erythemal radiation over Northern Eurasia (40°–80° N, 10° W–180° E) due to total ozone column (X) and cloudiness was assessed by using retrievals from ERA-Interim reanalysis, TOMS/OMI satellite measurements, and INM-RSHU chemistry–climate model (CCM) for the 1979–2015 period. For clear-sky conditions during spring and summer, consistent trends in erythemal daily doses (Eery) up to +3%/decade, attributed to decreases in X, were calculated from the three datasets. Model experiments suggest that anthropogenic emissions of ozone-depleting substances were the largest contributor to Eery trends, while volcanic aerosol and changes in sea surface temperature also played an important role. For all-sky conditions, Eery trends, calculated from the ERA-Interim and TOMS/OMI data over the territory of Eastern Europe, Siberia and Northeastern Asia, were significantly larger (up to +5–8%/decade) due to a combination of decrease in ozone and cloudiness. In contrast, all-sky maximum trends in Eery, calculated from the CCM results, were only +3–4%/decade. While Eery trends for Northern Eurasia were generally positive, negative trends were observed in July over central Arctic regions due to an increase in cloudiness. Finally, changes in the ultraviolet (UV) resources (characteristics of UV radiation for beneficial (vitamin D production) or adverse (sunburn) effects on human health) were assessed. When defining a “UV optimum” condition with the best balance in Eery for human health, the observed increases in Eery led to a noticeable reduction of the area with UV optimum for skin types 1 and 2, especially in April. In contrast, in central Arctic regions, decreases in Eery in July resulted in a change from “UV excess” to “UV optimum” conditions for skin types 2 and 3.
Highlights
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is well-known for its significant influence on human health and the environment
As stated in numerous publications and assessments [5,6,7,8], the decrease in stratospheric ozone resulting from anthropogenic emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) into the atmosphere has led to the increase in erythemal radiation at the Earth’s surface in the 1980s and 1990s
The comparisons of different ozone climatologies over the 1979–2015 period obtained from Institute of Numerical Mathematics Russian Academy of Science (RAS) (INM)-Russian State Hydrometeorological University (RSHU) chemistry–climate model (CCM), ERA-Interim Reanalysis and Satellite TOMS/OMI datasets are shown in Figure 3 and Table 1, where the main statistics of total ozone column are presented
Summary
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation is well-known for its significant influence on human health and the environment. High UV doses have negative effects on skin (erythema (sunburn), skin cancer), and cause eye diseases and immune suppression [1,2]. Moderate UV doses have positive effects causing vitamin D production [3,4]. Atmosphere 2020, 11, 59 affecting UV level [2,5] and providing significant year-to-year variability of UV radiation. As stated in numerous publications and assessments [5,6,7,8], the decrease in stratospheric ozone resulting from anthropogenic emissions of ozone depleting substances (ODSs) into the atmosphere has led to the increase in erythemal radiation at the Earth’s surface in the 1980s and 1990s.
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