| Popis: |
Once it was established that in many places additional ultraviolet (UV) radiation was reaching the earth’s surface due to the depletion of the earth’s protective ozone layer, the primary question became: What does this mean to life forms? Surprisingly little is known about the biological effects of UV-B (290–320nm) radiation, the major region of the solar spectrum to be affected by ozone loss. This is partly because the UV-C spectrum, which DNA and proteins absorb heavily, and the UV-A and visible spectra, where most of photosynthesis takes place, attracted thegreatest scientific attention. The dearth of information about the effect of UV-B onlifeforms is now being addressed. Among the first pieces of information needed to answer the question posed above is the construction of reliable UV-B action spectra (AS) for crucial biological endpoints. When available, these AS combined with an estimate of the ambient radiation spectra can give rise to effectiveness spectra (ES) that will allow us to estimate the effects of this increased UV-B on life. |
