The network has been reorganized in 2009. Please read this document to learn about these important changes.

Welcome to the NSF Polar UV Monitoring Network Web Site

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Ultraviolet (UV) Monitoring Network was established in 1987 by the NSF Division of Polar Programs in response to serious ozone depletion reported in Antarctica. Biospherical Instruments installed the first instruments in 1988. Observations were extended to the Arctic and are now part of NSF's Arctic Observing Network. The project is providing data to researchers studying the effects of ozone depletion on terrestrial and marine biological systems. Data are also used for the validation of satellite observations and for the verification of models describing the transfer of radiation through the atmosphere. Instruments are part of the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC).

Material provided on this website is based upon work supported by the National Science Foundation under Grants OPP-89-22832, OPP-0000373, ARC-0907819, ARC-0856268, and ARC-1203250. Any opinions, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

Shortcuts Access our latest data View and download our latest data. Download final data Volume 25 data from Barrow and Summit of the year 2015 are now online (Login required). Download Version 2 data Access our most accurate and compete data release!

What's new? A paper on a Comparison of OMI UV observations with ground-based measurements at high northern latitudes (including Summit and Barrow) was published by ACP. (7/9/15) The latest edition of the NOAA Arctic Report Card has been released. The document features an essay on Artic Ozone and UV Radiation based on data from Barrow and Summit and other Arctic sites. (12/12/13) A paper on high levels of ultraviolet radiation observed by ground-based instruments below the 2011 Arctic ozone hole was published by ACP. (11/1/13) Biospherical Instruments has received a grant from the National Science Foundation titled “Ultraviolet Radiation in the Arctic: 2012-2015” to continue UV observations at Barrow and Summit until 2015. (8/28/12) A paper on trends of solar ultraviolet irradiance at Barrow was published by ACP. (10/1/11) A climatology of ultraviolet radiation at high latitudes derived from measurements of the NSF Monitoring Network was published by Springer. (2010) The network was reorganized and data dissemination has changed. Please read this document to learn about these important changes. (10/19/10)

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