Extreme sunbathing: three weeks of small total O3 columns and high UV radiation over the southern tip of South America during the 2009 Antarctic O3 hole season

Abstract

This paper presents an analysis of satellite and groundbased measurements of total O3 columns and the UV index of a unique event during the 2009 Antarctic O3 hole season. From 11 to 30 November 2009 the Antarctic vortex was located just south of the southern tip of South America rather than at its climatological position over Antarctica. Analysis of 30 years of assimilated total O3 column and UV index measurements shows that this 20‐day event was unique in the history of the ozone hole for these latitudes. During this period, small total O3 columns and large UV index values were observed over the southern tip of South America. Comparison of ground‐based and satellite measurements of total O3 columns and satellite based calculations of the UVI index – never designed nor validated for such extreme Southern Hemisphere conditions – show excellent agreement.