Solar radiation is an important natural factor because it forms the Earth’s climate
and has a significant influence on the environment. The ultraviolet part of the solar
spectrum (UV) plays an important role in many processes in the biosphere. It has
several beneficial effects but it may also be very harmful if UV exceeds ”safe” limits.
If the amount of UV radiation is sufficiently high the self-protection ability of some
biological species is exhausted and the subject may be severely damaged.
This also concerns the human organism.
Changes in the earth's climate affect on the other hand the incoming UV radiation.
Clouds, Ozone and Aerosols are the most effective attenuators for radiation. If the eamount changes
the UV changes as well.
Total ozone column
Clouds
Aersols
Outlook
The inverse correlation between the total ozone column and the UV-B irradiance
has been confirmed by measurements at several locations. These measurements show
that long-term changes of the stratospheric ozone layer may modify the UV climatology,
particularly at middle and high latitudes. An expected recovery of the ozone layer
in the middle of the 21st century should therefore also allow for a stabilisation
of UV-B radiation in the next decades.
The present trends and the behaviour of the ozone layer are strongly influenced by
radiative, chemical and dynamical processes in the stratosphere. The significance
of these processes may be augmented by human activities (e.g. the ”greenhouse effect”)
and result in higher short-term variations of the ozone layer and UV-B radiation.
In general clouds decrease the amount of incoming UV radiation. However under certain conditions
clouds can enhance UV radiation by reflection.
Longer term changes in cloudniness occur also on local scales.
Therefore trends in respect to clouds can not be generalized.
During the past years many efforts were undertaken to reduce aersols especially in urban regions.
This leads to an increase of UV radiation. However UV reaches only the natural level.
The environment benefits from clear air.
High poluted air is still a serious factor that may cause health damage due to UV
deficienncy like decreased Vitamin D photosynthesis that may result in rickets; a serious
problem in many cities around the world.
The negative impacts on human health could be eliminated by a professional public
awareness based on, for example, UV Index information. In any case, the next century
brings a challenge for a more active and individual control of UV exposure and
protective measures, at least for the large photosensitive part of the population.
Other organisms have only their natural adaptive protection possibilities.