Author
Anu Heikkilä
Bio: Anu Heikkilä is an academic researcher from Finnish Meteorological Institute. The author has contributed to research in topics: Ozone depletion & Ozone layer. The author has an hindex of 17, co-authored 54 publications receiving 1226 citations.
Topics: Ozone depletion, Ozone layer, Spectroradiometer, Climate change, Snow
Papers published on a yearly basis
Papers
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QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute1, Loyola University New Orleans2, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center3, United States Environmental Protection Agency4, University of Wollongong5, North Carolina State University6, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki7, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research8, Lancaster University9, Australian National University10, Garvan Institute of Medical Research11, University of Manchester12, University of Sydney13, Erasmus University Rotterdam14, King's College London15, University of Helsinki16, Murdoch University17, University College Cork18, University of Buenos Aires19, Miami University20, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute21, National Autonomous University of Mexico22, Linnaeus University23, University of Gothenburg24, National Cheng Kung University25, National Center for Atmospheric Research26, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology27, University of Guelph28, Leibniz Association29, Finnish Meteorological Institute30
TL;DR: The present 2017 Update Report assesses some of the highlights and new insights about the interactive nature of the direct and indirect effects of UV radiation, atmospheric processes, and climate change.
Abstract: This assessment, by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Environmental Effects Assessment Panel (EEAP), one of three Panels informing the Parties to the Montreal Protocol, provides an update, since our previous extensive assessment (Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2019, 18, 595-828), of recent findings of current and projected interactive environmental effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, stratospheric ozone, and climate change. These effects include those on human health, air quality, terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, biogeochemical cycles, and materials used in construction and other services. The present update evaluates further evidence of the consequences of human activity on climate change that are altering the exposure of organisms and ecosystems to UV radiation. This in turn reveals the interactive effects of many climate change factors with UV radiation that have implications for the atmosphere, feedbacks, contaminant fate and transport, organismal responses, and many outdoor materials including plastics, wood, and fabrics. The universal ratification of the Montreal Protocol, signed by 197 countries, has led to the regulation and phase-out of chemicals that deplete the stratospheric ozone layer. Although this treaty has had unprecedented success in protecting the ozone layer, and hence all life on Earth from damaging UV radiation, it is also making a substantial contribution to reducing climate warming because many of the chemicals under this treaty are greenhouse gases.
193 citations
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Jessica Blunden1, Derek S. Arndt1, Kate M. Willett2, A. Johannes Dolman3 +445 more•Institutions (114)
TL;DR: The State of the Climate for 2013 as discussed by the authors is a very low-resolution file and it can be downloaded in a few minutes for a high-resolution version of the report to download.
Abstract: Editors note: For easy download the posted pdf of the State of the Climate for 2013 is a very low-resolution file. A high-resolution copy of the report is available by clicking here. Please be patient as it may take a few minutes for the high-resolution file to download.
168 citations
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Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich1, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki2, University of Bremen3, Royal Meteorological Institute4, University of Barcelona5, Danish Meteorological Institute6, Belgian Institute for Space Aeronomy7, Finnish Meteorological Institute8, Fraunhofer Society9, ETH Zurich10, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna11
TL;DR: Eighteen radiative transfer models in use for calculation of UV index are compared with respect to their results for more than 100 cloud‐free atmospheres, which describe present, possible future and extreme conditions.
Abstract: Eighteen radiative transfer models in use for calculation of UV index are compared with respect to their results for more than 100 cloud-free atmospheres, which describe present, possible future and extreme conditions. The comparison includes six multiple-scattering spectral models, eight fast spectral models and four empirical models. Averages of the results of the six participating multiple-scattering spectral models are taken as a basis for assessment. The agreement among the multiple-scattering models is within ±0.5 UV index values for more than 80% of chosen atmospheric parameters. The fast spectral models have very different agreement, between ±1 and up to 12 UV index values. The results of the empirical models agree reasonably well with the reference models but only for the atmospheres for which they have been developed. The data to describe the atmospheric conditions, which are used for the comparison, together with the individual results of all participating models and model descriptions are available on the Internet: http://www.meteo.physik.uni-muenchen.de/strahlung/cost/.
131 citations
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Loyola University New Orleans1, Miami University2, Australian National University3, University of Wollongong4, National Center for Atmospheric Research5, Murdoch University6, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki7, Swiss Federal Institute of Aquatic Science and Technology8, North Carolina State University9, National Institute of Water and Atmospheric Research10, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center11, University of Buenos Aires12, University of Guelph13, QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute14, University of Edinburgh15, Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust16, Linnaeus University17, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute18, University of Michigan19, University of Idaho20, Leiden University21, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg22, Finnish Meteorological Institute23, University College Cork24, University of Helsinki25, Cancer Council Victoria26, University of Gothenburg27, Columbia University28, University of Western Australia29, King's College London30, United States Environmental Protection Agency31
TL;DR: The Montreal Protocol has also played an important role in mitigating climate change as discussed by the authors, and the Montreal Protocol will continue to have far-reaching benefits for human well-being and environmental sustainability.
Abstract: Changes in stratospheric ozone and climate over the past 40-plus years have altered the solar ultraviolet (UV) radiation conditions at the Earth’s surface. Ozone depletion has also contributed to climate change across the Southern Hemisphere. These changes are interacting in complex ways to affect human health, food and water security, and ecosystem services. Many adverse effects of high UV exposure have been avoided thanks to the Montreal Protocol with its Amendments and Adjustments, which have effectively controlled the production and use of ozone-depleting substances. This international treaty has also played an important role in mitigating climate change. Climate change is modifying UV exposure and affecting how people and ecosystems respond to UV; these effects will become more pronounced in the future. The interactions between stratospheric ozone, climate and UV radiation will therefore shift over time; however, the Montreal Protocol will continue to have far-reaching benefits for human well-being and environmental sustainability.
124 citations
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Arlene P. Aaron-Morrison, Steven A. Ackerman1, Nicolaus G. Adams2, Robert F. Adler3 +470 more•Institutions (138)
TL;DR: The State of the Climate for 2014 as mentioned in this paper is a very low-resolution file and it can be downloaded in a few minutes for a high-resolution version of the report to download.
Abstract: Editors note: For easy download the posted pdf of the State of the Climate for 2014 is a very low-resolution file. A high-resolution copy of the report is available by clicking here. Please be patient as it may take a few minutes for the high-resolution file to download.
104 citations
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TL;DR: The uvspec program, a suite of tools for radiative transfer calculations in the Earth's atmosphere, and additional tools included with libRadtran are described and realistic examples of their use are given.
Abstract: . The libRadtran software package is a suite of tools for radiative transfer calculations in the Earth's atmosphere. Its main tool is the uvspec program. It may be used to compute radiances, irradiances and actinic fluxes in the solar and terrestrial part of the spectrum. The design of uvspec allows simple problems to be easily solved using defaults and included data, hence making it suitable for educational purposes. At the same time the flexibility in how and what input may be specified makes it a powerful and versatile tool for research tasks. The uvspec tool and additional tools included with libRadtran are described and realistic examples of their use are given. The libRadtran software package is available from http://www.libradtran.org.
1,309 citations
01 Jan 2011
TL;DR: The GMTED2010 layer extents (minimum and maximum latitude and longitude) are a result of the coordinate system inherited from the 1-arcsecond SRTM.
Abstract: For more information on the USGS—the Federal source for science about the Earth, its natural and living resources, natural hazards, and the environment, visit http://www.usgs.gov or call 1–888–ASK–USGS. For an overview of USGS information products, including maps, imagery, and publications, Any use of trade, product, or firm names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government. Although this report is in the public domain, permission must be secured from the individual copyright owners to reproduce any copyrighted materials contained within this report. 10. Diagram showing the GMTED2010 layer extents (minimum and maximum latitude and longitude) are a result of the coordinate system inherited from the 1-arc-second SRTM
802 citations
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TL;DR: The Montreal Protocol is working, but it will take several decades for ozone to return to 1980 levels, and the phase-out of CFCs is currently tending to counteract the increases in surface temperature due to increased GHGs.
Abstract: The Montreal Protocol is working, but it will take several decades for ozone to return to 1980 levels. The atmospheric concentrations of ozone depleting substances are decreasing, and ozone column amounts are no longer decreasing. Mid-latitude ozone is expected to return to 1980 levels before mid-century, slightly earlier than predicted previously. However, the recovery rate will be slower at high latitudes. Springtime ozone depletion is expected to continue to occur at polar latitudes, especially in Antarctica, in the next few decades. Because of the success of the Protocol, increases in UV-B radiation have been small outside regions affected by the Antarctic ozone hole, and have been difficult to detect. There is a large variability in UV-B radiation due to factors other than ozone, such as clouds and aerosols. There are few long-term measurements available to confirm the increases that would have occurred as a result of ozone depletion. At mid-latitudes UV-B irradiances are currently only slightly greater than in 1980 (increases less than ~5%), but increases have been substantial at high and polar latitudes where ozone depletion has been larger. Without the Montreal Protocol, peak values of sunburning UV radiation could have been tripled by 2065 at mid-northern latitudes. This would have had serious consequences for the environment and for human health. There are strong interactions between ozone depletion and changes in climate induced by increasing greenhouse gases (GHGs). Ozone depletion affects climate, and climate change affects ozone. The successful implementation of the Montreal Protocol has had a marked effect on climate change. The calculated reduction in radiative forcing due to the phase-out of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) far exceeds that from the measures taken under the Kyoto protocol for the reduction of GHGs. Thus the phase-out of CFCs is currently tending to counteract the increases in surface temperature due to increased GHGs. The amount of stratospheric ozone can also be affected by the increases in the concentration of GHGs, which lead to decreased temperatures in the stratosphere and accelerated circulation patterns. These changes tend to decrease total ozone in the tropics and increase total ozone at mid and high latitudes. Changes in circulation induced by changes in ozone can also affect patterns of surface wind and rainfall. The projected changes in ozone and clouds may lead to large decreases in UV at high latitudes, where UV is already low; and to small increases at low latitudes, where it is already high. This could have important implications for health and ecosystems. Compared to 1980, UV-B irradiance towards the end of the 21st century is projected to be lower at mid to high latitudes by between 5 and 20% respectively, and higher by 2-3% in the low latitudes. However, these projections must be treated with caution because they also depend strongly on changes in cloud cover, air pollutants, and aerosols, all of which are influenced by climate change, and their future is uncertain. Strong interactions between ozone depletion and climate change and uncertainties in the measurements and models limit our confidence in predicting the future UV radiation. It is therefore important to improve our understanding of the processes involved, and to continue monitoring ozone and surface UV spectral irradiances both from the surface and from satellites so we can respond to unexpected changes in the future.
476 citations
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors measured spectral and wavelength-integrated albedo on multi-year sea ice from a 200m survey line from April through October and observed changes in the evolution of albedos.
Abstract: [1] As part of ice albedo feedback studies during the Surface Heat Budget of the Arctic Ocean (SHEBA) field experiment, we measured spectral and wavelength-integrated albedo on multiyear sea ice. Measurements were made every 2.5 m along a 200-m survey line from April through October. Initially, this line was completely snow covered, but as the melt season progressed, it became a mixture of bare ice and melt ponds. Observed changes in albedo were a combination of a gradual evolution due to seasonal transitions and abrupt shifts resulting from synoptic weather events. There were five distinct phases in the evolution of albedo: dry snow, melting snow, pond formation, pond evolution, and fall freeze-up. In April the surface albedo was high (0.8-0.9) and spatially uniform. By the end of July the average albedo along the line was 0.4, and there was significant spatial variability, with values ranging from 0.1 for deep, dark ponds to 0.65 for bare, white ice. There was good agreement between surface-based albedos and measurements made from the University of Washington's Convair-580 research aircraft. A comparison between net solar irradiance computed using observed albedos and a simplified model of seasonal evolution shows good agreement as long as the timing of the transitions is accurately determined.
422 citations