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Dept for Environment Food and Rural Affairs

Answer

Ms Atherton: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (1) what advice she has received from the scientific community regarding the cessation of the compilation of Dobson Photospectrerra data from Camborne; [207984] (2) what consultation she undertook before stopping research into ozone depletion at Camborne Meteorological Office; [207985] (3) for how many years the UK Government has collected data using the Dobson Spectrerra; [207986] (4) what analysis has been done of the data collected by the Dobson Photospectrerra; and if she will make a statement; [208092] (5) what representations she has received about the discontinuance of the collection at Camborne of data concerning ozone levels; [208100] (6) what steps she is taking to collect data in the south- west of England about ozone depletion. [208101] Mr. Morley: The Government are satisfied that the current arrangements for collecting ozone data are more cost-effective than those applying previously, and meet scientific and public information needs. The Met Office, for the UK Government, has collected Dobson Photospectrometer data since 1957. Measurements at Camborne were taken between 1957 and 1967 and then between 1989 and 2003. In the intervening period, measurements were taken at Bracknell, near Reading. There have been continuous measurements at Lerwick since 1957. Ozone measurements are also available from satellites and give complete coverage for the UK, although a few local measurements in an area the size of the UK are needed to calibrate the satellite data and to provide long-term data for analysing trends. At the renewal of the monitoring contracts in 2003, bidders were asked to propose a rationalisation of both the ozone and ultra-violet radiation (UV) monitoring networks. Following an analysis of network requirements, provided by Imperial College, it was decided to move measurements of ozone from Camborne to Reading, for the following reasons: There was a long record of UV measurements at Reading and co-location of the ozone and UV monitoring sites in the south was deemed to be useful. Ozone measurements had been made at Bracknell, near Reading, previously. Ozone measurements were also made in Valentia, Ireland, and that would be sufficient information, together with Reading, to provide cover for south west England. A separate formal consultation was not undertaken but was not considered necessary as the open tender process, which included key players in ozone monitoring, sought guidance on the monitoring requirement. The Met Office expressed the view to Defra that the measurements at Camborne should have been continued; but Defra, in reviewing all of the advice it had received, concluded that on balance relocation to Reading was the best option. The daily ozone data are analysed on a weekly basis, and the results, including those covering the south-west, are placed on a publicly accessible website (http:// www.airquality.co.uk/archive/ozone/). The record at Lerwick over the last 30 years shows a decreasing trend in overall ozone levels. However, there is some indication of ozone recovery in the last 10 years at both Lerwick and Camborne. If any short-term low or high ozone events occur, further analysis is carried out to ascertain the causes. Records are sent to international data centres where they are made available for studies to identify global ozone trends.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

429 c845-6W;429 c849-50W; 207984;207985;207986;208092;208100;208101

Session

2004-05

Subjects

Climate change Ozone layer Monitoring Research Met Office

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk