Ultraviolet radiation studies in Córdoba, Argentina

GUSTAVO G. PALANCAR; BEATRIZ M. TOSELLI

Mar del Plata

Congreso; SPARC 2000 2nd General Assembly Stratospheric Processes and their Role in Climate and Workshop on Impacts of UV Radiation on Terrestrial and Aquatic Ecosystem; 2000

World Climate Research Programme

<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-ansi-language:ES; mso-fareast-language:ES;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --> Ultraviolet-B radiation (UV-B, 280-315) is monitored in Córdoba, Argentina (31o24´ S, 64o11´ W, 400 meters above sea level) using the Yankee Environmental Systems (YES) pyranometer, model UVB-1. Measurements of solar broad band UV-B irradiances were conduced between November 1998 and December 1999. These are, to our knowledge, the first measurements obtained in Córdoba with a high quality pyranometer. The site selected for the measurements represents semi-urban conditions and is along the most frequent wind direction (NE-SW). For clear sky days, the measurements are in good agreement with results of a radiative transfer model.  However, this study shows substantial reduction of UV-B radiation on days with high levels of air pollution.  The maximum UV irradiance measured was 2.61 W m-2. In this work we investigate the seasonal variation of UV-B radiation to assess its response to air pollution, physical variables, and meteorological factors.