Cloud cover impact on solar UV radiation in Río Gallegos, Argentina

P. F. ORTE; E. WOLFRAM; SALVADOR J.; R. D'ELIA; C. MARINELLI; E. QUEL

Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

Workshop; V Workshop on Lidar Measurements in Latin America; 2009

Centro de Investigaciones en Láseres y Aplicaciones

This study evaluates the statistical dependence of UV index with the total ozone column and cloud optical thickness in the Río Gallegos Patagonian city for spring and summer. Another aim is quantify the attenuation of UV radiation produced by clouds when ozone hole overpass the city, producing change in the normal level of surface radiation. To this end, we analyzed cloud optical thickness and UV index data measured with the moderate narrow band radiometer GUV-541 (Biospherical Inc). This instrument is part of passive sensor deployed in CEILAP RG site, the atmospheric observatory that join lidar instrument and UV radiometers to study ozone hole related topics in subpolar region. The temporal evolution of total ozone column analyzed in this work was measured by OMI/AURA satellite of NASA over this site. All these data analyzed correspond to spring and summer months since October 2005 to December 2008. We can to observe the cloud cover strong effect in the attenuation of solar UV radiation when the ozone hole is passing over Río Gallegos.