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ESTIMATION OF UV RADIATION DOSE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WETLANDS
Citation:
Diamond, S A., G. S. Peterson, G T. Ankley, AND J E. Tietge. ESTIMATION OF UV RADIATION DOSE IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA WETLANDS. Presented at 22nd Annual SETAC Annual Meeting, Baltimore, MD, November 11-15, 2001.
Description:
The ultraviolet (UV) B wavelength range (280 nm to 320 nm) of solar radiation can be a significant biological stressor, and has been hypothesized to be partially responsible for amphibian declines and malformation. This hypothesis has been difficult to evaluate, in part, because of the lack of accurate and consistent dosimetry. To address these problems we have employed solar radiation models (SBDART and Solar Analyst), historical solar radiation data (National Renewable Energy Laboratory), the results of extensive wetland surveys, and thorough dosimetry during controlled experiments. These methods have allowed us to develop accurate estimates of the effect of location, season, weather and other atmospheric variables; attenuation by the wetland water column; and effects of experimental manipulation in controlled studies to derive realistic estimates of UV dose. Based on actual or empirically modeled data, solar radiation in Northern Minnesota, estimated from data accumulated from 1961 to 1990 in Fargo, North Dakota, USA, terrestrial solar radiation can vary from 5% to 95% of surface levels within 1 cm of depth. By incorporation of 30 years of hourly solar radiation data probabilities of various levels of exposure have been derived from frequency analysis. The distributions will be presented graphically, and their potential use in risk management will be discussed.