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| Titel |
Recent studies on UV radiation in Brazil |
| VerfasserIn |
M. P. Correa, J. C. Ceballos, A. Moregula, E. Okuno, A. Fausto, A. Mol, J. C. Santos |
| Konferenz |
EGU General Assembly 2009
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| Medientyp |
Artikel
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| Sprache |
Englisch
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| Digitales Dokument |
PDF |
| Erschienen |
In: GRA - Volume 11 (2009) |
| Datensatznummer |
250027565
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| Zusammenfassung |
| This presentation shows a summary of UV index measurements performed in the last years in
Southeastern (SE) and Northeastern (NE) Brazilian regions. Brazil has an area of 8.5
million km2 distributed between latitudes 5Ë N and 35Ë S and longitudes 5Ë W and
75Ë W. SE is the most important economic pole of South America and the NE
coast is an important tourist region. This large area has a great diversity of climatic,
atmospheric and geographical conditions in addition to very diverse social and
cultural habits. Non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) is an epidemiological health
problem with more than 120,000 new cases each year. The most of these cases are
found in the South and Southeast regions, with about 70 new NMSC per 100,000
inhabitants.
Solar Light UV501 biometers are installed in the SE cities of São Paulo (23.6Ë S, 46.7Ë
W, 865 m ASL), Itajubá/Minas Gerais (22.4Ë S; 45.5Ë W, 846 m ASL) and the NE city of
Ilhéus/Bahia (14.8Ë S; 39.3Ë W; 54 m ASL). First measurements began in 2005 in São Paulo
city, while Itajubá and Ilhéus have regular measurements from the beginning of 2008. Other
studies related to the UV radiation modeling and interactions with atmosphere components,
as ozone, aerosols and clouds, have also been performed. For example: a) UVI
modelling calculations performed by a multiple-scattering spectral models; b) studies
on the aerosol radiative properties based on satellite (MODIS/Terra-Aqua) and
ground-based (Aeronet) observation; c) ozone content variability from satellite
(OMI/Aura) and ground-based (Microtops ozonometer) measurements; d) behavioral
profile of the population, as regarding habits of solar exposure and sun protection
measures.
Results show that more than 75% of the measurements conducted in the summer
(outside noon) can be classified as upper than high UVI according to World Health
Organization (WHO) recommended categories: Low (UVI < 2), Medium (3 -¤ UVI <
6), High (6 -¤ UVI < 8), Very High (8 -¤ UVI < 11) and Extreme (UVI -¥ 11).
Under clear-sky conditions it has been constantly high in all the Brazilian territories.
Maximum UVI recorded: São Paulo (2005-2008): 17.2; Itajubá: 15.5; and Ilhéus:
13.6. Even during winter, measurements constantly reach values around UVI =
6. São Paulo is appreciably touched for these high UV radiation levels to have a
population very exposed during its quotidian. In the popular culture, an urban site is
not popularly considered as a sunny place. In other words, for a large part of the
Brazilian population, São Paulo or Itajubá are perceived as places where the risk to the
sun overexposure is relatively low. These recent results are being used as basis for
educational programs to teach the population about precautions to be taken during sun
exposure.
Acknowledgments: This study was supported by FAPEMIG (Minas Gerais, Brazil),
FAPESP (São Paulo, Brazil) and CNPq (Brasília, Brazil). |
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