Solar UV Irradiance in a Changing Climate: Trends in Europe and the Significance of Spectral Monitoring in Italy

Fountoulakis, Ilias; Diémoz, Henri; Siani, Anna Maria; Laschewski, Gudrun; Filippa, Gianluca; Arola, Antti; Bais, A. F.; Backer, H. De; Lakkala, Kaisa; Webb, Ann R.; Bock, Veerle De; Karppinen, Tomi; Garane, Katerina; Kapsomenakis, John; Koukouli, M. E.; Zerefos, C. S.

doi:10.3390/environments7010001

Cited by 32 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 186 publications

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“…The latter is possibly related to the use of climatological aerosol information, that might be inadequate for the setting of the measurement site. The validation for Rome and Saint-Christophe for the period 2005-2015 provides very similar results as a comparison with another satellite UVI product at this locations for the period 2012-2015 [20].…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

“…This can be seen as a hint, that there are further influencing factors rather than a constant bias of the UVI clear−sky . In combination with the fact, that there is a large number of days with CMF ≥ 0.95 in Rome and Thessaloniki, the differences of the climatological values compared to the measurements mainly reflect the deficits of the UVI clear−sky based on satellite data, such as inadequate consideration of aerosols, which have been found in other analyses as well [20]. In Saint-Christophe a stronger cloud modification especially in May and the beginning of June seems to increase already existing negative differences of the UVI clear−sky during this time period.…”

Section: Comparison Of Uvi Climatology With Ground-based Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Due to the methods of the satellite-based data retrieval, the temporal changes of the UVI here mainly reflect the effects of cloudiness and ozone. As the main drivers of changes in the UV are changes in aerosols, cloudiness and surface albedo and only to a less extend in total ozone [20], the analysis only covers a section of the temporal change and does only allow conclusions in this respect.…”

Section: Temporal Changes Of Uvimentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Increases of UV radiation during summer of 7% to 9% per decade and for 64°solar zenith angle, due to decreases in aerosol load and weakening of the attenuation, are detected. A recent analysis of long-term trends of UV irradiance at four European stations during the period 1996-2017 has come to the conclusion that the main drivers of changes in the UV are changes in aerosols, cloudiness and surface albedo [20]. Both, the magnitude and the direction of the trends and the main influencing factors vary significantly and changes in total ozone have been found to play a less significant role [20].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data

et al. 2020

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The UV-Index (UVI) is aimed at the prevention of skin cancer as well as other negative implications of ultraviolet radiation exposure. In order to support health related applications, assessments and planning that rely on long term data in high spatial resolution and as there exist only limited ground-based measurements, satellite products from reliable atmospheric monitoring services are used as sustainable data sources to create a climatology of the UVI at the local noon. In this study, the (all-sky) UVI as well as the hypothetically clear-sky UVI were analysed for the European region from 30° North to 65° North and from 25° West to 35° East in a spatial resolution of 0.05° for the time period 1983 to 2015. Maps of the monthly mean UVI provide an overview of the distribution of UVI for Europe as well as the spatial and temporal differences and regional variability at local solar noon. Additionally, eight selected locations provide insight into the effects of latitude and altitude on UVI in Europe. Monthly boxplots for each location provide information about regional differences in the variability of UVI, showing maximum variability in Northern and Central Europe in summer, where in Southern Europe this basically occurs in spring. The frequency of the World Health Organization exposure categories moderate, high and very high UVI is provided based on ten-day means for each month. The maximum difference between mean values per decade of 2006–2015 compared to 1983–1992 ranges from −1.2 to +1.2 for UVI and from −0.4 to +0.6 for UVI c l e a r − s k y . All locations, except the Northern European site, show an increase of UVI during spring and early summer months. A statistically significant increase in the annual mean all-sky UVI has been found for four sites, which ranges from +1.2% to +3.6% per decade. The latest eleven-year period of the UVI climatology (2005–2015) has been validated with UVI measured in five sites. The sites that are located north of the Alps show an underestimation of the UVI, likely due to the cloud modification. In the south, the UVI climatology provides values that are on average overestimated, possibly related to the use of climatological aerosol information. For the site within the Alps, a switch between underestimation and overestimation during the course of the year has been found. 7% to 9% of the UVI values of the climatology differ from the measured UVI by more than one unit.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 57%

Section: Comparison Of Uvi Climatology With Ground-based Measurementsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Temporal Changes Of Uvimentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data

et al. 2020

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“…The urban areas are generally characterized by low UV dose levels, due to higher aerosol optical depths, mostly of anthropogenic origin. Cities in northern Italy (industrialized areas) are characterized by lower doses than southern cities, particularly during the winter months (10-14 kJ m -2 day -1 ), due to less sun illumination and higher frequency of episodes of low horizontal visibility caused by pollution and fog [40,41].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in Outdoor Workers: A Study on Actinic Keratosis in Italian Navy Personnel

Vimercati

Maria

Caputi

et al. 2020

IJERPH

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Occupational exposure to ultraviolet radiation is one of the main risk factors for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) development. The most common variants of NMSC are basal cell carcinomas, squamous cell carcinomas, and actinic keratosis (AK). The latter is nowadays considered by most authors as an early squamous cell carcinoma rather than a precancerous lesion. Outdoor workers have a higher risk of developing NMSC because they spend most of the working day outside. The aim of this descriptive study was to assess the prevalence of skin lesions, especially AK, in a professional category of individuals exposed to ultraviolet (UV) radiation: the Italian Navy. From January to June 2016, a questionnaire and a total skin examination of 921 military personnel were administered by medical specialists (dermatologists) in seven different Italian Navy centres. AK was detected in 217 of 921 (23.5%) workers. Older age, outdoor occupation, longer working life, and fair skin seem to promote the development of AK. Of the 217 workers with AK, 187 (86.2%) had lesions in chronically sun-exposed skin areas. Italian Navy personnel have a high AK prevalence. Further studies are needed to investigate occupational hazards and their health effects among outdoor workers to promote protective behaviour and raise awareness of skin cancer.

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The 2020 Arctic ozone depletion and signs of its effect on the ozone column at lower latitudes

Petkov

Vitale

Carlo

et al. 2021

Bull. of Atmos. Sci.& Technol.

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The present study discusses the effect of the ozone depletion that occurred over the Arctic in 2020 on the ozone column in central and southern Europe by analysing a data set obtained from ground-based measurements at six stations placed from 79 to 42°N. Over the northernmost site (Ny-Ålesund), the ozone column decreased by about 45% compared to the climatological average at the beginning of April, and its values returned to the normal levels at the end of the month. Southwards, the anomaly gradually reduced to nearly 15% at 42°N (Rome) and the ozone minimum was detected with a delay from about 6 days at 65°N to 20 days at 42°N. At the same time, the evolution of the ozone column at the considered stations placed below the polar circle corresponded to that observed at Ny-Ålesund, but at 42°–46°N, the ozone column turned back to the typical values at the end of May. This similarity in the ozone evolutional patterns at different latitudes and the gradually increasing delay of the minimum occurrences towards the south allows the assumption that the ozone columns at lower latitudes were affected by the phenomenon in the Arctic. The ozone decrease observed at Aosta (46°N) combined with predominantly cloud-free conditions resulted in about an 18% increase in the erythemally weighted solar ultraviolet irradiance reaching the Earth’s surface in May.

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Solar UV Irradiance in a Changing Climate: Trends in Europe and the Significance of Spectral Monitoring in Italy

Cited by 32 publications

References 186 publications

UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data

UV-Index Climatology for Europe Based on Satellite Data

Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer in Outdoor Workers: A Study on Actinic Keratosis in Italian Navy Personnel

The 2020 Arctic ozone depletion and signs of its effect on the ozone column at lower latitudes

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