A team of German and U.S. researchers have measured the highest level of ultraviolet radiation ever recorded on Earth's surface, according to a press release issued by Frontiers in Environmental Science.
"This is an excellent example of how astrobiology - which includes understanding the atmospheres of other planets - is germane to contemporary concerns here on Earth," said David Black, president and CEO of the SETI Institute, according to the release.
The UV fluxes, which were observed in the Bolivian Andes just 1,500 miles from the equator, are far above those usually considered to be harmful to aquatic and terrestrial life.
"These record-setting levels were not measured in Antarctica, where ozone holes have been a recurring problem for decades," says team leader Nathalie A. Cabrol of the SETI Institute and NASA Ames Research Center, according to the release. "This is in the tropics, in an area where there are small towns and villages."
Measurements were made in the southern hemisphere during the summer of 2003 and 2004 by using instruments developed for the European Light Dosimeter Network (Eldonet). In December of 2003, a record UV index of 43.3 was detected at Bolivia's Licancabur volcano.
"A UV index of 11 is considered extreme, and has reached up to 26 in nearby locations in recent years," said Cabrol. "But on December 29, 2003, we measured an index of 43. If you're at a beach in the U.S., you might experience an index of 8 or 9 during the summer, intense enough to warrant protection. You simply do not want to be outside when the index reaches 30 or 40."
Intense radiation coincided with other circumstances that might have increased the UV flux, including ozone depletion by increased aerosols from seasonal storms and fire in the nearby area, according to the release.
A large solar flare took place just two weeks before the highest UV fluxes were registered.
"While these events are not directly tied to climate change, they are sentinels of what could occur if ozone thins globally," Cabrol says. "The thinner and more unstable the ozone, the more prone we will be to this kind of event."
Results are being published in the open-access journal Frontiers in Environmental Science.
"While this unsettling record might be the result of a 'perfect storm' of events, it could happen again, because the factors that caused it are not rare. What we need is more monitoring of the ozone changes in these areas," Cabrol added. "These fluxes, which are comparable to those of early Mars, are occurring in a populated area."
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