VARIABILITY OF UV-B AT 4 STATIONS IN EUROPE

The variability of solar irradiance in the UV-B spectral region is stu died at four stations operating well-calibrated spectroradiometers dur ing the period 1991-96. It is confirmed that total ozone is the contro lling factor in long-term changes of solar irradiance below 320 nm rec eived at the ground. This result is supported by the similar long-term variability under clear sky and all sky conditions during the past fi ve years. The study includes estimates of the amplitude of the annual cycle and estimates of long-term changes. An important result of this note is, that calculated changes in solar irradiance depend on the len gth of the observational period and that any speculations on its futur e changes should be treated always with caution. It is estimated that a 2.7% change per year in solar irradiance at 305 nm at Thessaloniki i s a rate that could possibly continue in view of the expected continua tion of the ozone decline resulting to an increase of 27% per decade, which is comparable to the amplitude of the annual cycle at that stati on.