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How substantial are ultraviolet-B supplementation inaccuracies in experimental square-wave delivery systems?

Musil, Charles F ; Björn, Lars Olof LU orcid ; Scourfield, MWJ and Bodeker, GE (2002) In Environmental and Experimental Botany 47(1). p.25-38
Abstract
Square-wave (SQW) ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280–315 nm) radiation supplementation systems continue to be used in outdoor experimental locations due to the economically restrictive installation and maintenance costs, and technical expertise required to effectively operate more advanced modulated (MOD) delivery systems. However, continued yet contentious criticisms of SQW delivery systems risk creating prejudices as to the validity of plant responses measured in these with potentially negative repercussions on future UV-B experimentation. Consequently, we quantified the magnitude of UV-B supplementation inaccuracies in our typical outdoor step-wise SQW delivery system using 7-year records of computer-modeled and instrument-measured solar UV-B... (More)
Square-wave (SQW) ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280–315 nm) radiation supplementation systems continue to be used in outdoor experimental locations due to the economically restrictive installation and maintenance costs, and technical expertise required to effectively operate more advanced modulated (MOD) delivery systems. However, continued yet contentious criticisms of SQW delivery systems risk creating prejudices as to the validity of plant responses measured in these with potentially negative repercussions on future UV-B experimentation. Consequently, we quantified the magnitude of UV-B supplementation inaccuracies in our typical outdoor step-wise SQW delivery system using 7-year records of computer-modeled and instrument-measured solar UV-B irradiances and synchronous measurements of total solar (300–3000 nm) radiation and daily sunshine duration. Both broad- and narrow-band instrument measurements confirmed that our step-wise SQW delivery system rendered larger total daily supplemental UV-B exposures (time-integrated UV-B irradiances) than a MOD delivery system on only substantially overcast days (25% or less daily sunshine duration). These larger supplemental UV-B exposures were augmented with increased magnitude of the added artificial UV-B supplement. However, their ranges did not exceed those in a MOD delivery system by more than 10% for added UV-B supplements of realistic magnitude (30% or less above background), except on virtually completely overcast days (5% or less daily sunshine duration). Also, our step-wise SQW delivery system rendered higher photon flux ratios of UV-B/total solar radiation than a MOD delivery system on only substantially overcast days, the ranges of which were also augmented with increased magnitude of the added artificial UV-B supplement. However, these features were restricted to high solar angles, since with reduced solar angle these higher photon flux ratios also included progressively less overcast days. Nevertheless, ranges of photon flux ratio increases were well below reported thresholds inhibiting to plant growth at all solar angles for the added artificial UV-B supplements of realistic magnitude, except on virtually completely overcast days. Results point to an under-estimation of clear-sky UV-B irradiance by the computer-encoded semi-empirical model commonly utilized to predict background and supplemental UV-B irradiances for SQW delivery systems. They confirm the superiority of MOD delivery systems in providing more realistic conditions of UV-B increases but likewise demonstrate little justification on balance for branding results derived from all field-based SQW delivery systems as exaggerated where sensible irradiation protocols and realistic UV-B supplements are applied.

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author
; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
in
Environmental and Experimental Botany
volume
47
issue
1
pages
25 - 38
publisher
Elsevier
external identifiers
  • wos:000172897600003
  • scopus:0036134803
ISSN
0098-8472
DOI
10.1016/S0098-8472(01)00108-3
project
Photobiology
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
5fc112db-d368-4aa8-929d-cb92f5d092e0 (old id 133542)
date added to LUP
2016-04-01 16:05:42
date last changed
2022-04-15 02:05:46
@article{5fc112db-d368-4aa8-929d-cb92f5d092e0,
  abstract     = {{Square-wave (SQW) ultraviolet-B (UV-B: 280–315 nm) radiation supplementation systems continue to be used in outdoor experimental locations due to the economically restrictive installation and maintenance costs, and technical expertise required to effectively operate more advanced modulated (MOD) delivery systems. However, continued yet contentious criticisms of SQW delivery systems risk creating prejudices as to the validity of plant responses measured in these with potentially negative repercussions on future UV-B experimentation. Consequently, we quantified the magnitude of UV-B supplementation inaccuracies in our typical outdoor step-wise SQW delivery system using 7-year records of computer-modeled and instrument-measured solar UV-B irradiances and synchronous measurements of total solar (300–3000 nm) radiation and daily sunshine duration. Both broad- and narrow-band instrument measurements confirmed that our step-wise SQW delivery system rendered larger total daily supplemental UV-B exposures (time-integrated UV-B irradiances) than a MOD delivery system on only substantially overcast days (25% or less daily sunshine duration). These larger supplemental UV-B exposures were augmented with increased magnitude of the added artificial UV-B supplement. However, their ranges did not exceed those in a MOD delivery system by more than 10% for added UV-B supplements of realistic magnitude (30% or less above background), except on virtually completely overcast days (5% or less daily sunshine duration). Also, our step-wise SQW delivery system rendered higher photon flux ratios of UV-B/total solar radiation than a MOD delivery system on only substantially overcast days, the ranges of which were also augmented with increased magnitude of the added artificial UV-B supplement. However, these features were restricted to high solar angles, since with reduced solar angle these higher photon flux ratios also included progressively less overcast days. Nevertheless, ranges of photon flux ratio increases were well below reported thresholds inhibiting to plant growth at all solar angles for the added artificial UV-B supplements of realistic magnitude, except on virtually completely overcast days. Results point to an under-estimation of clear-sky UV-B irradiance by the computer-encoded semi-empirical model commonly utilized to predict background and supplemental UV-B irradiances for SQW delivery systems. They confirm the superiority of MOD delivery systems in providing more realistic conditions of UV-B increases but likewise demonstrate little justification on balance for branding results derived from all field-based SQW delivery systems as exaggerated where sensible irradiation protocols and realistic UV-B supplements are applied. <br/><br>
This is the final, accepted and revised manuscript of this article. Use alternative location to go to the published article. Requires subscription.}},
  author       = {{Musil, Charles F and Björn, Lars Olof and Scourfield, MWJ and Bodeker, GE}},
  issn         = {{0098-8472}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{25--38}},
  publisher    = {{Elsevier}},
  series       = {{Environmental and Experimental Botany}},
  title        = {{How substantial are ultraviolet-B supplementation inaccuracies in experimental square-wave delivery systems?}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/4566045/624380.pdf}},
  doi          = {{10.1016/S0098-8472(01)00108-3}},
  volume       = {{47}},
  year         = {{2002}},
}