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UV monitoring efforts in the U.S. are being coordinated through the US Global Change Research Program. In addition to the networks described below, there are a variety of UV monitoring instruments operated independently at universities, hospitals and research institutes. Others are operated by interested individuals.
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Biospherical Instruments Inc. (BSI), under the direction of National Science Foundation, is responsible for the operation and maintenance of the NSF UV Monitoring Network, and for the distribution of network data to the scientific community. The network, established in 1988, has since been in operation responding to predictions of increased UV radiation in the polar regions. The network currently consists of six high resolution spectroradiometers (BSI model SUV-100). Three instruments are in Antarctica, the other three are located in southern-most Argentina, the northern-most point in Alaska, and in San Diego, California. The San Diego system also serves for training and testing. Multi-channel filter radiometers (BSI models GUV-511C and GUV-541) were added to all sites in 2003. The network performs measurements of global spectral irradiance in the UV and visible. Data is provided to researchers studying the effects of ozone depletion on terrestrial and marine biological systems. Network data is also used for atmospheric research, and the validation of satellite observations.
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The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has developed a program to operate a monitoring network to measure ultraviolet (UV) radiation flux at the earth's surface using the Brewer Spectrophotometer instrument. The EPA also provides for public awareness of exposure to UV radiation through the adaptation and publication of a predictive UV "exposure Index." This "Index," which is in agreement with the standards set by WHO and WMO for providing UV index information, was developed in conjunction with the National Weather Service, and was initiated on June 29, 1994 in 58 cities across the US. The EPA's monitoring program includes 21 Brewer spectrophotometers located at sites that include both urban (polluted) and National Park locations. These enable the EPA to improve the algorithms on which the index predictions are based. Other parameters to be measured include total column ozone, cloud cover, interfering tropospheric pollutants. There are also various experiments being performed to determine other factors, such as cloud type and aerosols, that may affect the UV flux. Network operations and instrument calibration is undertaken by the National UV Monitoring Center (University of Georgia) and independent calibration audits are performed by the Central UV Calibration Facility.
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The USDA began operating a network of broadband meters in 1992. Since that time, the network has expanded to 32 sites and has introduced additional instrumentation throughout the network. Each station has a broadband meter and PAR quantum sensor, plus visible and UV 7-channel multi filter rotating shadowband radiometers. The data are displayed on the world wide web daily and include direct, normal, diffuse, and total horizontal irradiance at 13 nominal wavelengths (300,305,311,317,325,332,368,415,500,610,665,862,940 nanometers). The network is expected to expand to approximately 40 sites.
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Two NOAA monitoring networks have been collecting UV data.
ISIS - The Air Resources Laboratory operates the Integrated Surface Irradiance Study (ISIS). ISIS operates at two levels: level 1 monitors incoming radiation only and level 2 (SurfRad) focuses on the surface radiation budget. NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory in Oak Ridge operates the level 1 ISIS sites.
SURFRAD - NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory in Boulder operates seven sites in the United States for the purpose of understanding the energy balance. The sites are equipped with a variety of solar and infrared meters, including broadband UV meters.
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Data from Maryland were collected from 1976 to 1992 using a multi-filter instrument which measured in seven distinct UV regions. Center wavelengths for these measurements were 295, 300, 305, 310, 315, 320 and 325 nm.
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High quality UV monitoring will be established as a part of NDSC (Network for the Detection of Stratospheric Change). UV spectrometers will be included as "Research Mode" at primary and complementary NDSC sites. To date, measurements are being made in Germany and New Zealand as a part of NDSC's mission.
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The UV central calibration laboratory is operated by the Surface Radiation Research Branch (SRRB) of NOAA's Air Resources Laboratory in Boulder, Colorado. It is responsible for transfering NIST absolute standards to operational UV monitoring instruments on a regular basis. The design and development of this facility has been a joint effort involving U.S. governmental agencies and university scientists. The facility offers calibration of broadband, filter and spectral instruments. Both laboratory and field calibrations are performed by this facility. In addition, the facility hosts an annual intercomparison of North American UV monitoring instruments. A portable field calibration device has been developed at this facility. The facility also serves private industry and non-USA agencies by offering services to manufacturers of UV measuring devices.
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Elizabeth Weatherhead
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
University of Colorado at Boulder
Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences
Campus Box 216
Boulder, Colorado 80309-0216
Charles R. Booth
President BSI, Inc.
5340 Riley Street
San Diego, California 92110-2621
John Rives
Dept. of Physics and Astronomy
University of Georgia
Athens, GA 30602-2451
Henry Tyrrell
USDA Representative
USDA/CSREES
Ag Box 2210
Washington, DC 20250
Wei Gao
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
(970) 491-3609
Jim Slusser
Natural Resource Ecology Laboratory
Colorado State University
Fort Collins, Colorado 80523
(970) 491-3623
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NSF/BSI Network
BSI McMurdo, Antarctica 1988
BSI Palmer, Antarctica 1988
BSI South Pole, Antarctica 1988
BSI Ushuaia, Argentina 1988
BSI San Diego, CA 1988
BSI Barrow, AK 1988
UGA/EPA UV Network:
Brewer Acadia Mar 98
Brewer Albuquerque Nov 98
Brewer Atlanta Apr 94
Brewer Big Bend Feb 97
Brewer Boulder Jun 96
Brewer Canyonlands Jul 97
Brewer Chicago Nov 99
Brewer Denali Oct 97
Brewer Everglades Jan 97
Brewer Gaithersburg Jul 94
Brewer Glacier Sep 97
Brewer Smoky Mts < Oct 96
Brewer Hawaii Feb 99
Brewer Olympic Dec 97
Brewer Riverside Oct 95
Brewer Rocky Mts May 98
Brewer RTP Oct 92
Brewer Sequoia Jan 97
Brewer Shenandoah Dec 96
Brewer Theodore Sep 98
Brewer Virgin Islands May 98
NOAA SurfRad UV Network
Yankee Bondville, IL Jan 95
Yankee Boulder, CO Jul 95
Yankee Desert Rock, NV Mar 98
Yankee Fort Peck, MT Mar 95
Yankee Goodwin Creek, MS Jan 95
Yankee Penn State, PA Jun 98
Yankee Sioux Falls, SD Jun 03
NOAA ISIS UV Network
S.L. 501 Albuquerque, NM 94
S.L. 501 Bismarck, ND 94
S.L. 501 Hanford, CA 94
S.L. 501 Madison, WI 94
S.L. 501 Oak Ridge, TN 94
S.L. 501 Salt Lake City, UT 94
S.L. 501 Seattle, WA 94
S.L. 501 Sterling, VA 94
S.L. 501 Tallahassee, FL 94
USDA/UVMRP Network
Instrument Location Long./Lat.
Yankee Fairbanks, AK 65.1'N 147.4'E
Yankee Flagstaff, AZ 36.1'N 112.2'W
Yankee Davis, California 38.5'N 121.8'W
Yankee Holtville, CA 32.8'N 115.4'W
Yankee Nunn, CO 40.8'N 104.8'W
Yankee Steamboat Springs, CO 40.5'N 106.7'W
Yankee Longmont, CO (research) 40.1'N 105.2'W
Yankee Homestead, FL 25.4'N 80.7'W
Yankee Griffin, GA 33.2'N 84.4'W
Yankee Hilo, HI 19.5'N 155.6'W
Yankee Bondville, IL 40.1'N 88.4'W
Yankee West Lafayette, IN 40.5'N 87.0'W
Yankee Baton Rouge, LA 30.4'N 91.2'W
Yankee Queenstown, MD 38.9'N 76.2'W
Yankee Beltsville, MD 39.0'N 77.0'W
Yankee Greenbelt, MD (research) 39.0'N 76.8'W
Yankee Howland, ME (closed) 45.2'N 68.7'W
Yankee Presque Island, MI 46.7'N 68.0'W
Yankee Pellston, MI 45.6'N 84.7'W
Yankee Grand Rapids, MN 47.2'N 93.5'W
Yankee Starkville, MS 33.5'N 88.8'W
Yankee Poplar, MT 48.3'N 105.1'W
Yankee Raleigh, NC 35.7'N 78.7'W
Yankee Mead, NE 41.2'N 96.5'W
Yankee Las Cruces, NM 32.6'N 106.7'W
Yankee Geneva, NY 42.9'N 77.0'W
Yankee Alexandra, New Zealand 45.0'S 169.7'E
Yankee Oxford, OH 39.5'N 84.7'W
Yankee Toronto, Ontario, Canada 43.8'N 79.5'W
Yankee Regina, SK, Canada 50.2'N 104.7'W
Yankee Panther Junction, TX 29.1'N 103.5'W
Yankee Logan, UT 41.7'N 111.9'W
Yankee Burlington, VT 44.5'N 72.9'W
Yankee Pullman, WA 46.8'N 117.2'W
Yankee Dancy, WI 44.7'N 89.8'W
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