UV radiation in Europe, 1980-2000

UV radiation in Europe

In comparative terms, the largest increase in UV radiation over the last twenty years - 7-8% - has been in Central Europe. The increase in the Netherlands was 5-6%.
The pattern of the increase in UV across Europe is the result of a complex interplay of physical, chemical and meteorological factors. These factors are only partly understood. In the 1990s, the Netherlands was regularly located in the area with the largest relative UV increase in Europe.

Policy

International policy aims to restrict or stop the production and use of ozone-depleting substances. A large number of countries have signed the Montreal Protocol and therefore undertaken to use no more CFCs from 1996 onwards (from 2010 onwards in developing countries). Global production and use of ozone-depleting substances have, as a result, fallen sharply in the last ten years. The measures are intended to result in the recovery of the ozone layer (so that it becomes thicker), restoring the situation that prevailed in 1980.

Relevance

An increase in UV radiation has numerous harmful effects on the environment and health, including extra cases of skin cancer.

Technical note

The map provides a picture of changes in annual UV radiation in Europe (2000 as compared to 1980). Because annual fluctuations in the ozone layer have a large effect on the annual radiation level, three-year averages were used for the calculations. The average for 1979-1981 was allocated to 1980, and the average for 1999-2001 to 2000.

Annual UV was calculated on the basis of satellite measurements and describes the UV radiation relevant for skin cancer (skin cancer action spectrum, De Gruijl and Van der Leun, 1994). It is not corrected for fluctuations in cloud cover.

References

De Gruijl, F.R. and J.C. van der Leun (1994). Estimate of the wavelength dependency of ultraviolet carcinogenesis in humans and its relevance to the risk assessment of a stratospheric ozone depletion. Health Physics 67, 319-325.

Slaper, H., G.J.M. Velders and J. Matthijsen (1998). Ozone depletion and skin cancer incidence: a source risk approach. Journal of Hazardous Materials 61, 77-84.

Slaper H., J. Matthijsen, P.N. den Outer and G.J.M. Velders (2001). Climatology of Ultraviolet Budgets using Earth Observation (CUBEO): mapping UV from the perspective of risk assessments, BCRS USP-2 report 00-17, ISBN 90 54 11 32 6.

Relevant information outside of the Environmental Data Compendium

Information about ozone measurements in the Netherlands and Belgium can be found at KNMI and KMI.

RIVM (2000). National Environmental Outlook 5. Samsom bv, Alphen aan den Rijn. For more information about the policy with respect to depletion of the ozone layer.

RIVM (2002). Environmental balance 2002. Kluwer, Alphen aan den Rijn, for more information about future developments relating to UV radiation.

Kelfkens, G., A. Bregman, F.R. de Gruijl, J.C. van der Leun, A. Piquet, T. van Oijen, W.W.C. Gieskes, H. van Loveren, G.J.M. Velders, P. Martens and H. Slaper, H., Ozone layer - climate change interactions: Influence on UV levels and UV related effects. ISBN 90 5851 079 4, Dutch National Research Programme on Global Air Pollution and climate change, Report 410 200 112.

UNEP, Frequently Asked Questions About the Ozone Layer and Related Environmental Effects.

EPA (Environmental Protection Agency), with information about: science of ozone depletion, the regulatory approach to protecting the ozone layer, and on alternatives to ozone-depletion substances.

TEAP Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) of the Montreal Protocol.

NASA/TOMS, most recent ozone maps and data.

NOAA, Scientific Assessment of Ozone Depletion: 1998.

ETC/ACC (European Topic Center on Air and Climate Change).

More information about measurements of UV radiation can be found on the websites of the WMO (World Ozone and Ultraviolet Radiation Data Centre, UV radiation page), NASA/TOMS and the European SUVDAMA project.