Second day of 1.5+  (yesterday and beautiful today, which  reached 1.6). Not sure how the sensors capture UV but I do wonder of the snowfields around Berkshire might affect it?

This is when I miss my greenhouse most!

A couple of hours under 1.5 or 1.6 UV thaws the bones and brings hope of the spring.

Ho Hum , two more months!

This is when I miss my greenhouse most!

A couple of hours under 1.5 or 1.6 UV thaws the bones and brings hope of the spring.

Ho Hum , two more months!

More like one more month before I have to slop on loads of goopy suncream every time I go to the wolf centre - hate having to do that, but at least it reduces the risk of skin cancer. (I've seen relatives and friends come down with it, and I'm determined to avoid their fate!)

That said, with the sunlight bouncing off the snow on Saturday up in the hills near Reading, it felt more like late February than early!

 

More like one more month before I have to slop on loads of goopy suncream every time I go to the wolf centre - hate having to do that, but at least it reduces the risk of skin cancer. (I've seen relatives and friends come down with it, and I'm determined to avoid their fate!)

That said, with the sunlight bouncing off the snow on Saturday up in the hills near Reading, it felt more like late February than early!

Probably missed it, but what's the connection with the wolf centre Retron? We live about 4km from there, but our quiet Sunday morning trail runs take us closer by than that, and their call is unmistakable and wonderful to hear. When the one escaped (intentionally or otherwise) last year, it came down our lane and through the fields where we walk the dog daily, but from what I heard she went through a field of sheep without even blinking.

Sorry about the digress from UV levels, trout season on the Lambourn and Itchen is around the corner, so that'll be my reminder to start looking at the Reading levels...

Of no real surprise giving it's mid Feb but still it's always nice to see the uv index heading up..

Solar panels got up to 2Kw today by 11am (they face SE).

7 March seems to be the real trigger point though.

Solar panels got up to 2Kw today by 11am (they face SE).

7 March seems to be the real trigger point though.

I would agree, in most years. Two years ago, though, we triggered a UV2 in mid Feb (about 16th I think?)

Shows what the potential could be!

2.0 in Reading. Yawoo! Is that a record- certainly it's the earliest 2 in recent years?

Edit:  The MetO forecast for today was spot on!

2.0 in Reading. Yawoo! Is that a record- certainly it's the earliest 2 in recent years?

The  sun was strong today for early-mid February.  Best ever solar electricity generation for this date here at my home-cum-powerstation.

 

The  sun was strong today for early-mid February.  Best ever solar electricity generation for this date here at my home-cum-powerstation.

but

only because I missed the outdoors entirely! Aaaagh!

Anyone know of any images of the amount of stratospheric Ozone over the UK currently?

If we are seeing high levels of U.V. for the time of year could it be hinting at some reductions in our ozone protection?

Thanks in advance!

 

The  sun was strong today for early-mid February.  Best ever solar electricity generation for this date here at my home-cum-powerstation.

The sun wasn't strong it doesn't change, it will be the same strenghth at this time of year as it was last. The sun at this point in February is pretty much the same as it is at the end if October, and at at that point UV's are still around 2 (or at least they are down here).

What can and does effect the sun strength are atmospheric things such as; pollution, ozone  humidity, clouds etc.

Despite more strong sunshine forecast for the next couple of days, the UV locally is only forecast as 1, partly due to increased moisture in this more southerly airstream. This is born out by the fact that we have a foggy morning now.

2.0 yesterday and today in Reading- despite the humidity and misty starts both days. 

UV max of 1.9 today, if this southerly drift continues we may see some Saharan dust coming our way to reduce the UV 

1.4 Saturday and 1.8 today. A King's Shilling (and I've got some) that we break 2.3 by the end of next weekend.

Another 2 today; this February is delivering well.

I tracked down a real time ( well day out) ozone map for the N.Hemisphere

http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/ozone/images/graphs/o3_hrmaps_dev/current.gif

and the back end of last week saw the S, and esp. the SE, with the fringes of the lowered ozone amounts Spain were seeing? I wonder if this drop off ( by 10 to 20% of the norms) makes it easier for us to see the top of the range of UV values for that day of the year?

I tracked down a real time ( well day out) ozone map for the N.Hemisphere

http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/ozone/images/graphs/o3_hrmaps_dev/current.gif

and the back end of last week saw the S, and esp. the SE, with the fringes of the lowered ozone amounts Spain were seeing? I wonder if this drop off ( by 10 to 20% of the norms) makes it easier for us to see the top of the range of UV values for that day of the year?

That would make sense Gray; these levels do look to be unusual when considering, some of the days (not today particularly), have had quite a bit of moisture in the air to thicken the view.

 

That would make sense Gray; these levels do look to be unusual when considering, some of the days (not today particularly), have had quite a bit of moisture in the air to thicken the view.

I know someone pulled this up a period a few Febs/march back where we had one of these 'holes' centred over us and UV was high?

I know the furthest reaches of South America used to struggle with the then Antarctic Ozone hole so if we are seeing alterations to the lower Strat circulation over the Arctic which , in its turn, throws out lobes of the circulation to the south and into the rising sun the ozone would become depleted and so leave these weaknesses?

I might have it all wrong of course , I'm late to the party so don't know just how often such weaknesses turn up but now I have the 

http://es-ee.tor.ec.gc.ca/e/ozone/Curr_allmap.htm

maps so I can cross ref your levels ( and opinions) with the plots?

Thanks for the reply b.t.w.!