Language: English
ISBN/ISSN: 9787302203605
2009; Hardcover; 544 pages
Over the past three decades, the scientific community has realized the urgency ofobtaining a better understanding of the interaction between the earth's atmosphere/biosphere and the sun's radiant energy. Most of the research has focused on theradiant energy balances in the solar and infrared regions of the spectrum, and theway these energy flows affect the climate. During this same time frame, in arelated arena, a smaller group of dedicated individuals has concentrated on therole of ultraviolet （UV） radiation as it affects the overall welfare of the planet.Although comprising only a small fraction of the radiation balance that may playa role in global climate change over the next centuries, UV radiation has thecapacity to cause direct and more immediate harm to virtually all living organismsand especially to human health. Cumulative high doses of UV radiation areconsidered a major causal factor in the development of skin cancer and cataracts.Ultraviolet radiation can weaken the human immune system, and can also affectcrop production and ocean bio-productivity. Concerns about the increased levels of UV-B radiation reaching the earth'ssurface have led to the development of ground- and space-based measurementprograms to provide long-term records of its levels. Accurate long-termmeasurements are difficult to obtain, especially when limited to the bandwidthregions that contain the most harmful solar photons. A core of concernedscientists from across the globe realizes that much work is needed in quantifyingthe harmful radiation levels and defining their adverse effects. In assessing theeffects of UV-B radiation, it is important to realize the complexity of theinteractions of living organisms that cause adverse responses with radiant energydirectly, as well as in combination with other climate stressors, such as drought,increased temperatures, and CO2.
Table of Contents
List of Contributors
1 A Climatology of UV Radiation, 1979- 2000, 65S - 65N
1.1
1.2 Method
1.3 Results
1.3.1 Satellite-Derived UV Climatologies
1.3.2 Comparison with Ground-Based Measurements
1.3.3 Discussion of Uncertanties
1.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
2 Balancing the Risks and Benefits of Ultraviolet Radiation
2.1
2.2 Long Term Changes in UVEry
2.3 Geographical Variability in UVEry
2.4 Peak UV
2.4.1 Peak UV Index
2.4.2 Peak UV Daily Dose
2.5 Comparing Weighting Functions for Erythema and Vitamin D
2.6 Seasonal and Diurnal Variation of UVE~y and UVvitD
2.7 Global Climatologies of UVE~y and UVvitD
2.8 Relationship Between UVvitD and UVEry
2.9 Production of Vitamin D from Sunlight
2.10 Calculation of Optimal Times for Exposure to Sunlight
2.11 An Inconsistency
2.12 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
3 Climatology of Ultraviolet Radiation at High Latitudes Derived from Measurements of the National Science Foundation's Ultraviolet Spec-tral Irradiance Monitoring Network
3.1
3.2 Data Analysis
3.2.1 Data
3.2.2 Establishment of Climatologies
3.2.3 Estimates of Historical UV Indices
3.3 UV Index Climatology
3.3.1 South Pole
3.3.2 McMurdo Station
3.3.3 Palmer Station
3.3.4 Ushuaia
3.3.5 San Diego
3.3.6 Barrow
3.4 Climatology ofUV-A Irradiance
3.5 Comparison of Radiation Levels at Network Sites
3.6 Conclusions and Outlook
Acknowledgements
References
4 UV Solar Radiation in Polar Regions: Consequences for the Environment and Human Health
4.1
4.2 Networks and Databanks
4.3 Impact of Solar UV on the Environment
4.3.1 Effect of the Environment on Solar UV
4.4 Impact of Solar UV on Human Health
4.4.1 Information and Protection Programs
4.4.2 Dosimetry, UV Modeling, and Instruments
4.5 Concluding Remarks
References
5 Changes in Ultraviolet and Visible Solar Irradiance 1979 to 2008
5.1
5.2 Instrumentation
5.3 Detection of Long-Term Change
5.3.1 Radiation Amplification Factor
5.3.2 Different Definitions of RAF
5.3.3 Estimating UV Trends: Discussion
5.3.4 Reduction ofUV Irradiance by Clouds and Aerosols
5.3.5 Stokes Derivation of Cr=(1-R)/(1-Rc)
5.3.6 UV Absorption
5.3.7 Estimating Zonal Average UV Change
5.3.8 Estimating UV Trends: Satellites
5.3.9 Estimating UV Trends: Ground-Based
5.4 UV in the Polar Regions
5.5 Human Exposure to UV
5.6 UV Index and Units
5.7 Action Spectra and Irradiance Trends
5.8 UV Summary
Appendix 5.1 Calculating RAF(0 )
Acknowledgements
References
6 The Brewer Spectrophotometer
6.1
6.2 History
6.3 The Instrument
6.3. I The Fore-Optics
6.3.2 The Spectrometer
6.3.3 The Photomultiplier Housing
6.3.4 Support Electronics
6.3.5 The Control Computer
6.4 Corrections Applied to Data
6.4.1 Dark Count
6.4.2 Dead Time
6.4.3 Stray Light
6.4.4 Temperature Response
6.4.5 Neutral Density Filters
6.4.6 Cosine Response
6.4.7 Intemal Polarization
6.5 Measurement of Total Ozone
6.5.1 Measurement Technique
6.5.2 Calibration
6.6 Measurement of Spectral UV Radiation
6.7 Measurement of Other Atmospheric Variables
6.7.1 Vertical Profile of Ozone
6.7.2 Atmospheric SO2
6.7.3 Atmospheric NOz
6.7.4 Aerosol Optical Depth
6.7.5 Effective Temperature of Atmospheric Ozone
6.8 The Brewer Spectrophotometer as a Powerful Research Tool
6.9 Summary
Acknowledgements
References
7 Techniques for Solar Dosimetry in Different Environments
7.1
7.2 UV Dosimetry and Minimization Strategies
7.3 Miniaturization of Polysulphone Dosimeters
7.4 Measurements on Plants
7.5 Long-Term UV Dosimeters
7.6 Vitamin D Effective UV Dosimetry
7.7 Discussion and Conclusions
References
8 An Ultraviolet Radiation Monitoring and Research Program for Agriculture
8.1
8.2to the USDA UVMRP (Purpose and History)
8.3 Monitoring Network
8.3.1 Sites and Coverage
8.3.2 Data Products Provided by UVMRP
8.4 Data Collection and Processing
8.4.1 UV-MFRSR Data Processing
8.4.2 Erythemally Weighted UV Irradiance
8.4.3 Langley Analysis
8.4.4 Data Processing for Other Measurements
8.5 Derived Products
8.5.1 Optical Depth
8.5.2 Daily Column Ozone
8.5.3 Synthetic Spectrum Data
8.6 Database Design and Website Interface
8.6.1 The Data
8.7 UVMRP's Role in UV-B Agricultural Effects Studies
8.7.1 Mississippi State University
8.7.2 Purdue University
8.7.3 Utah State University
8.7.4 University of Maryland
8.7.5 Washington State University
8.7.6 University of Illinois——Chicago
8.7.7 Highlights of Other Collaborations
8.8 Modeling of Agricultural Sustainability
8.9 Future Considerations
8.10 Summary
Acknowledgements
References
9 Radiative Transfer in the Coupled Atmosphere-Snow-Ice-Ocean(CASlO) System: Review of Modeling Capabilities
9.1
9.2 Radiative Transfer Modeling
……
10 Comparative Analysis of UV-B Exposure Between Nimbus 7/TOMS Satellite Estimates and Ground-Based Measurements
10.1
10.2 Materials and Methods
10.3 Results and Discussion
10.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
11 Ultraviolet Radiation and Its Interaction with Air Pollution
11.1
11.2 Optics of the Atmosphere
11.3 Models and Measurements
11.4 Summary
References
12 Urban Forest Influences on Exposure to UV Radiation and Potential Consequences for Human Health
12.1
12.2 Effects of Solar UV on Human Health and Epidemiology
12.3 UV Climatology
12.4 Urban Structural Influences
12.5 Public Health Information
12.6 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
13 Solar UV-B Radiation and Global Dimming: Effects on Plant Growth and UV-Shielding
13.1
13.2 Methods
13.3 Results
13.4 Discussion
13.5 Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgements
References
14 Effects of Ultraviolet-B Radiation and lts Interactions with Climate Change Factors on Agricultural Crop Growth and Yield
14.1
14.2 Abiotic Stress Factors and Crop Yield
14.3 Crop Responses to UV-B and Other Climate Change Factors
14.4 Abiotic Stress Tolerance and Cultivar Screening Tools
14.5 Climate Change and Aerobiology and Public Health
14.6 Concluding Remarks
Acknowledgements
References
15 Assessment of DNA Damage as a Tool to Measure UV-B Tolerance in Soybean Lines Differing in Foliar Flavonoid Composition
15.1
15.2 Materials and Methods
15.3 Results and Discussion
15.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
16 Physiological Impacts of Short-Term UV Irradiance Exposures on Cultivars of Glycine Max
16.1
16.2 Materials and Methods
16.3 Results and Discussion
16.4 Summary and Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
17 UV-Effects on Young Seedlings of Soybean: Effects in Early Development and Long-Term Effects
17.1
17.2 Results and Discussion
17.3 Conclusions
17.4 Methods
Acknowledgements
References
18 Characteristics of UV-B Radiation Tolerance in Broadleaf Trees in Southern USA
18 1
18.2 Methodology
18.3 Results and Discussion
18.4 Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References
Index
