2001 EARTH SCIENCE VIDEOTAPES |
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Tape Title | Record ID | Date Produced | TRT: |
Synopsis |
| A GLOBAL VIEW OF SUNBURN HOTSPOTS | G01-059 | 08/15/01 | 00:04:08 | Since 1995, various agencies have recognized the importance of tracking and reporting UV levels to the public as a matter of safety. Referring to ultraviolet radiation from the Sun, UV levels consist of three kinds: UV-A, UV-B, and UV-C. Of these, UV-B is the most dangerous kind to people, increasing the risk of sunburns, cancers, and cataracts. The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer (TOMS) aboard the Earth Probe spacecraft, tracks ozone depletion as well as determining ultraviolet radiation penetrating the ozone layer to reach the ground.
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TAPE CONTENTS: |
| ITEM (1): One Year of UV Ups And Downs - Annual UV levels throughout the world for August 2000 - July 2001 (with & without dates). Things to watch for include very high levels of UV exposure during the Southern Hemisphere summer in Australia and southern Africa due to more open and cloud-free areas. Less atmosphere over the Himalayas in Asia account for high UV rates. Desert dust over the Sahara and smoke from fires in Indonesia and Mexico absorb UV radiation, meaning lower UV rates in those areas.
1 - Complete Earth
2 - United States
3 - The Americas
4 - Europe / Africa
5 - Asia / Australia
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (2): A Look At July UV Highs - Technically called the erythemal exposure data, the following maps reflect an estimate of the daily UV radiation reaching Earth in July. A set of highs and lows can be created by using the susceptibility of caucasian (fairest) skin to sunburns (erythema), which represents a daily potential for biological damage due to ultraviolet exposure. Taken into account is the strength of the ozone layer above the particular area and cloud conditions (can also absorb UV radiation).
Courtesy: NASA
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| ITEM (3): Earth Probe/TOMS Spacecraft - The Total Ozone Mapping Spectrometer, housed on the Earth Probe spacecraft, has been orbiting Earth since 1996 and will be replaced with the QuikTOMS spacecraft this year. The sensor flies in a polar orbit, crossing the equator every day at noon local time. TOMS combines measurements of total ozone and cloud cover with solar radiation escaping from the top of the atmosphere to estimate the amount of UV radiation reaching Earth's surface.
Courtesy: NASA
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