Enhanced UV penetration due to ozone cross-section changes induced by CO2 doubling

Abstract

Models predict that CO2 doubling in the atmosphere cools the stratosphere by as much as 10°C. We argue that this effect alone, through the temperature dependence of the ozone spectrum, can result in an increase of a few percent in UV-B (280-320 nm) penetration at the Earth's surface. The increase in Erythema-weighted UV radiation is about 1%. Future spectral observations of UV at the surface could distinguish this effect from any result of changes in ozone abundance. Copyright 1997 by the American Geophysical Union.