Atmospheric Chemistry and Physics Discussions www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net 1680-7367 1680-7375 5 5 2005 10.5194/acpd-5-10409-2005 http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10409/2005/ http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10409/2005/acpd-5-10409-2005.html http://www.atmos-chem-phys-discuss.net/5/10409/2005/acpd-5-10409-2005.pdf 10409 10420 2005-10-24 Episode of unusual high solar ultraviolet radiation in central Europe due to dynamical reduced stratospheric ozone in May 2005 C. Stick K. Krüger N. H. Schade H. Sandmann A. Macke Institut für Medizinische Klimatologie an der Universität Kiel, 24118 Kiel, Germany Alfred Wegener Institut für Polar- und Meeresforschung, 14401 Potsdam, Germany Leibniz-Institut für Meereswissenschaften an der Universität Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany In late May this year unusual high levels of solar ultraviolet radiation were observed in Europe. In Northern Germany the measured irradiance of erythemally effective radiation exceeded the climatological mean by more than about 20%. An extreme low ozone event for the season coincided with the high solar elevation angles during late spring leading to the highest value of erythemal UV-radiation ever observed at this location in May. This ''ozone mini-hole'' was caused by an elevation of tropopause height accompanied with a poleward advection of natural low total ozone from the tropics. The resultant increase in UV-radiation is of particular significance for human health. Dynamically induced low ozone episodes that happen around the summer solstice can considerably enhance the solar UV-radiation in the mid latitudes and therefore contribute to the UV-burden of people living in the mid latitudes.