Project: Traceability for atmospheric total column ozone

The ozone layer protects humans from the adverse effects of ultraviolet radiation. Careful long-term monitoring of the ozone layer remains crucial to verifying the success of the Montreal Protocol, which regulates against destructive chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Two main types of instrument are used to make ground-based measurements of atmospheric ozone. The older type of instrument needs to be phased out as it requires substantial manpower to operate and is no longer manufactured. However, a discrepancy of about 3 % in the measurement of atmospheric ozone produced by the two instruments is preventing this from happening. This project will characterise and calibrate the two instruments, disseminate improved ozone measurements with known uncertainties and eventually assist in the development of a replacement for the ageing instrument. The full recovery of the ozone layer would provide significant health benefits with respect to diseases such as melanoma skin cancers and eye cataracts.

Acronym ENV59 atmoz (Reference Number: ENV59)
Duration 01/10/2014 - 30/09/2017
Project Topic Metrology
Project Results
(after finalisation)
See Website
Website visit project website
Network EMRP
Call EMRP Call 2013 - Energy and Environment

Project partner

Number Name Role Country
1 Schweizerisches Forschungsinstitut fuer Hochgebirgsklima und Medizin in Davos Coordinator Switzerland
2 Aalto-korkeakoulusäätiö Partner Finland
3 Cesky Metrologicky Institut Partner Czech Republic
4 Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt Partner Germany
5 VSL B.V. Partner Netherlands
6 Kipp & Zonen BV Observer Netherlands
7 Universidad de la Laguna Spain
8 Universitaet Bremen Germany