Surface ultraviolet radiation and ozone content in Europe as indicators of environment quality

Abstract

The main findings obtained from the research that was carried out in the framework of the European research project INTAS-94-1453 are presented. The objectives of this study were the following: (a) the derivation of a cyclic model of long-term and superlong-term forecasting of total ozone content (TOC), (b) the numerical modelling of ozone variability in the troposphere and stratosphere in response to anthropogenic emissions, (c) the assessment of the possibility of solving the problem of calculating ultraviolet (UV) ground levels with model calculations using the UV radiances measured by satellites at the top of the atmosphere, (d) the remote sensing assessment of phytoplankton primary productivity and its dynamics due to atmospheric ozone variations, (e) the long-term observations of total ozone at St Petersburg (Voeikovo) and (f) the understanding of possible changes in the fine structure of the spectral composition of incoming solar radiation reaching the Earth's surface resulting from anthropogenic loadings and the study of the biosphere response to such possible changes. Detailed discussion of the results obtained is presented, showing that the ozone-related problems have not yet been adequately solved.

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge the contributions of the following colleagues of this INTAS Project: E. P. Borisenkov, A. E. Aloyan, V. O. Arutyunyan, E. V. Shalina, D. V. Pozdnyakov, the late K. Y. Kondratyev, G. P. Gushchin, A. M. Shalamyanskiy and P. P. Fedchenko. The full report of this project is available from the Commission of the European Union, ref. no. INTAS-94-1453.