Abstract
Ultraviolet (UV) radiation plays a key role in different planetary mechanisms, thus necessitating a worldwide analysis of this solar spectrum interval. This study offers a worldwide and long-term analysis of ozone radiative forcing (ORF) in the UV-B range between 1979 and 2014. The method uses monthly total ozone column (TOC) values obtained from the ERA-Interim reanalysis data collection and radiative transfer simulations. A global mean ORF of 0.011 Wm−2 is obtained, with marked differences between mid-latitude and tropical areas. The mid-latitude belts in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres exhibit the following statistically significant ORF trends between 1982 and 2014 with respect to pre-1980 values: 0.007 Wm−2 per decade in the 60–45°S belt and around 0.004 Wm−2 per decade in the 45–30°S and 45–60°N belts. The increase observed in the net UV-B radiation levels at the troposphere might have relevant photochemical effects that impact climate change.
Highlights
The evolution of the atmospheric ozone layer over the last few decades has been analysed in depth because of the key role it plays in planetary climate change [1,2] as well as the shortwave and longwave radiative budget [3]
Monthly UV-B radiation values were computed with the six lookup tables (LUTs) as follows: firstly, the right atmospheric model was selected taking into account the geographical coordinates, which determine the surface albedo value attributed by an International Geosphere Biosphere Programme (IGBP) map; secondly, in order to reduce the required computation time, the monthly mean of total ozone column (TOC) from ERA-Interim reanalysis for each grid point was considered; and all of the hourly average solar zenith angle (SZA) for an “average day” of the month considered were used in the calculations
These Ozone radiative forcing (ORF) changes were due to increases in net UV-B fluxes at the tropopause height of up to 10% in some areas of the world compared to those values in the background period
Summary
The evolution of the atmospheric ozone layer over the last few decades has been analysed in depth because of the key role it plays in planetary climate change [1,2] as well as the shortwave and longwave radiative budget [3]. UV-B variations related to ozone changes can induce substantial effects in tropospheric chemistry (e.g., a decrease in CH4 and CO growth rates), affecting the tropospheric radiative budget [7,8]. In this framework, the present study analyses worldwide ORF in the UV-B range over the last three decades (1979–2014) from radiative transfer simulations using the global database of total ozone column (TOC) provided by ERA-Interim reanalysis project [9] as input. This article is expected to improve current understanding of the radiative effects of worldwide ozone changes and have potential implications in different fields such as atmospheric chemistry, global radiative budget, and photobiology
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
