Report from Central America, México, and the Caribbean
By Juan Carlos Peláez Chávez (Cuban Meteorological Ins tute) and Geir Braathen (WMO-GAW)
Mexico and Cuba Mexico Cuba • Measurements of total • Observa ons by ozone and UV radia on Cuban Meteorological in Mexico City Ins tute (INSMET) • Total Ozone at one • Measurements of loca on (Solar Radia on total ozone and UV Observatory,UNAM) radia on in Havana • UV surface irradiance at Sta on 8 sta ons in Mexico City • Planned: UV Network (8 sta ons) Mexico City UV Sta ons
Program of UV measurements in Mexico City carried out by RAMA (Red Automá ca de Monitoreo Ambiental) under metrological control of Solar Radia on Observatory, UNAM (Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México) Total Ozone Measurements at Havana Sta on with Dobson No.67
Cuban Meteorological Ins tute carried out total ozone measurements from 1984 to 2000 with a filter ozonometer. A er 2000 total ozone measurements have been realized by Dobson Instrument # 67. This instrument took part in the 2003, 2006 and 2010 Dobson intercomparisions in Buenos Aires, Argen na. UVB Solar Radiation Measurements at Havana Station Data Repor ng to WOUDC Mexico Cuba • Monthly résumés of • Monthly resumes of the TOC the TOC measurements made measurements made at Havana sta on at Havana sta on (STN 192) up to April (STN 311) up to March 2000 are available at 2011 have been sent WOUDC to WOUDC, and can be consulted at h p://es- ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/cgi- bin/totalozone/ FUTURE PLANS Cuba Mexico • Following one of the recommenda ons • It is proposed to con nue related to Surface Networks at the 7th with the measurements of ORM, where one asks for the establishment of new sta ons for the total ozone in Mexico City monitoring of UV radia on in tropical • It is proposed to interact regions, this year (2011) we expect to with the Na onal establish a UV sta ons network based on UVA and UVB solar radia on Meteorological Service to instruments. The sta ons are located at extend the measurements the same places as the already installed of the solar ultraviolet automa c meteorological sta ons, which radia on to the whole measure, in addi on, the global component of solar irradiance. It's na onal territory on the important to state that most of the basis of the exis ng instruments that we are using use meteorological sta ons termopiles as sensor devices, therefore in the topic related to needs, we request some interna onal collabora on to allow us replacing these instruments by others of higher quality and known performance (Broad band radiometers specifically).
Cuba expects to establish a UVB and UVA sta ons Network in 2011 NEEDS AND • We wish to highlight that for the tropical region RECOMMENDATIONS where we stand, UV levels are high. On the other hand the “SPARC Report on the Evalua on of It's important to state that skin Chemistry Climate Models”, (Final Review cancer is the fastest growing Mee ng in Toledo, Spain, November 9-11, 2009) cancer type in Cuba, so health state that models consistently predict a par al authori es pay great a en on to recovery of tropical ozone followed by a all factors that might influence decrease in the second half of the 21st century, the behavior of this pathology, such that the tropical column of ozone is amongst them, the levels of UV predicted not even to return to 1980s values radia on. In addi on, the within this century; the long-term decrease is greatest number of medical mainly found in the lower stratosphere. It is consulta ons given to visi ng important that calibra on of UV monitoring tourists is related to skin injuries instruments be made with a periodicity of two due to extensive exposure to years or be er, and that in the same manner in solar radia on. Increased which Dobson spectrophotometers are knowledge of UV solar radia on thoroughly analyzed, UV radiometers are fully levels would improve not only inves gated. In other words, not only a the general health of our comparison with some reference instrument, but popula on, but also that of an analysis of the spectral response and other visi ng foreigners, mostly from characteris cs of the instruments. According to Europe and Canada. all of this, we consider that it is necessary to establish a Regional Reference and Calibra on Laboratory for UV instrument for WMO Regions III and IV.
• It's also important that through the NEEDS AND Vienna Conven on Trust Fund for RECOMMENDATIONS Research and Systema c Observa ons, UNEP’s Compliance Assistance Programme (CAP) or other funding sources, the par cipa on of personnel from our region (Mexico and Cuba) to the excellent training course that specialists from SOO Hradec Kralove at the Czech Republic offered be enabled.
• We would like to propose also that developing countries could count on interna onal funds that allow them to par cipate at workshops and Symposia.