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Tap Into a World of Environmental Information

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Tap Into a World of Environmental Information Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service Tap into a world of environmental information Monitoring the ozone layer and ultraviolet radiation The ozone layer protects us from potentially harmful ultraviolet radiation by absorbing it before it reaches Earth’s surface. The Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) monitors stratospheric ozone and provides forecasts of ground-level ultraviolet radiation based on this information. 1 Understanding the ozone hole Most atmospheric ozone is in a layer in the stratosphere, where it blocks ultraviolet radiation. But over the last few decades, increased emissions of human-made ozone-depleting chemicals have resulted in the thinning of the ozone layer between August and December each year, most prominently over Antarctica, where ozone levels are low enough to talk of an ‘ozone hole’. An international agreement is in place to protect the ozone layer by banning many We monitor the ozone layer that protects ozone-depleting chemicals. To ensure this protocol continues to be implemented, policy- us from ultraviolet radiation. makers need continued information about the amount of ozone in the stratosphere. 2 Monitoring the ozone layer We record the amount of ozone in the atmosphere and measure the extent and magnitude of the Antarctic ozone hole as it develops and recovers each year. We also provide a historical record of the ozone layer from 2003 to the present; this combines observations with our computer models that describe the composition of the atmosphere. The ozone hole that forms In addition to this, we monitor and forecast the amount of ultraviolet radiation reaching Earth’s annually over Antarctica. surface, taking into account the combined effect of ozone, clouds and aerosol particles. 2002 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 The change in the ozone hole since 2002. Human-made chemicals destroy ozone in the stratosphere, resulting in an annual thinning of the ozone layer over Antarctica. We monitor and forecast atmospheric ozone and the ultraviolet radiation that reaches Earth’s surface. Monitoring by CAMS and others shows that the ozone layer is slowly recovering. Our data in action Sun protection Unfortunately, two thirds of Australians are diagnosed with skin cancer by the age of 70. Research has shown that people often rely on temperature or sunny conditions to make decisions about when to protect their skin and that the ‘UV Index’ was not well understood or often misinterpreted. The SunSmart application offers daily alerts on ultraviolet radiation peaks and current readings all over Australia. It can also provide advice on how much sunscreen to use and when it needs to be reapplied, depending on the amount of sunscreen a user applies and their skin type. Developed by Cancer Council Victoria in Australia, SunSmart uses our data on levels of ultraviolet radiation at Earth’s surface to generate an ultraviolet index and make recommendations about sun protection. Our data are particularly useful for generating Ultraviolet radiation from the Sun is the major cause of ‘sun protection times’ that inform an app user when ultraviolet skin cancer. radiation is most intense. Personalised travel advice DiscovAir provides environmental information to visitors planning a trip to Greece. Via a mobile app and website, the service presents location-specific advice and alerts for comfort and health. A user can select whether they have a chronic disease, respiratory problems or are allergic to pollen, as well as their age and skin type, and DiscovAir provides personalised advice based on atmospheric conditions. The services uses data we provide on ultraviolet radiation levels and air pollution to help citizens better organise their travel and activities. Some of this information is updated hourly. DiscovAir helps tourists and locals stay healthy in Greece. DiscovAir was developed by the National Observatory of Athens in collaboration with the Academy of Athens and Evenflow. Our data support public and private sectors in their atmosphere-sensitive decisions and are freely available via the Atmosphere Data Store (ADS). We work with a range of businesses and organisations, from start-ups to multinationals. Our aim is to enable them to use our data to customise and disseminate our products, to create new products, or to improve their existing services. Find out more atmosphere.copernicus.eu/ linkedin company/copernicus-ecmwf TWITTER-SQUARE @CopernicusECMWF Instagram @copernicusecmwf Facebook-square @ECMWFcopernicus ozone-layer-and-ultra- violet-radiation Contact: Richard Engelen | Deputy Director | Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service | ECMWF | [email protected] 20210630 IMPLEMENTED BY IMPLEMENTED BY IMPLEMENTED BY Climate Change Climate Change Climate Change Service Service Service.
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