Total ozone influence on the surface UV‐B radiation in the late spring‐summer 1963–1997: An analysis of multiple timescales

Abstract

Monthly means and minima of total ozone for the late springs and summers (May–August) of 1963–1997 have been examined for the European Dobson stations (Arosa, Belsk, Hohenpeissenberg, Hradec Kralove, Uccle). It is shown that long‐term tendencies in total ozone means were almost similar to those in the total ozone minima. Analyses of the late spring/summer means of UV daily doses, total ozone, and global solar radiation (proxy for the overall atmospheric transparency), measured at Belsk (52°N, 21°E) for the period 1976–1996, show that an importance of the total ozone changes for the UV‐B level increases with the timescale. Decadal variations in total ozone are the main source of the UV trend at Belsk. Frequency of appearance of extreme daily total ozone values in the selected late spring/summer season seems to be important for analyses of the ozone forcing in the interannual timescale. Regional and temporal differences in the number of days with extreme low ozone values are discussed using the total ozone extrema taken at Arosa, Belsk, and Hradec Kralove in the 1963–1997 period. A statistical model is developed for diagnosis of the next day value of the UV‐B level. The changes in the overall atmospheric transparency are essential for the UV‐B level when the day‐to‐day variations in the UV forcing factors are examined.