Climate change-induced increases in precipitation are reducing the potential for solar ultraviolet radiation to inactivate pathogens in surface waters

• Published in: Scientific Reports
• Main Authors: Williamson, Craig E, Madronich, Sasha, Lal, Aparna, Zepp, Richard G., Lucas, Robyn, Overholt, Erin P., Rose, Kevin C., Schladow, S. Geofrey, Lee-Taylor, Julia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Nature Publishing Group
• Subjects: Browning; Molina; Fitzgerald; permafrost
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/1885/233496; https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-13392-2; https://openresearch-repository.anu.edu.au/bitstream/1885/233496/3/01_Williamson%2b_Climate_change-induced_2017.pdf.jpg

Climate change is accelerating the release of dissolved organic matter (DOM) to inland and coastal waters through increases in precipitation, thawing of permafrost, and changes in vegetation. Our modeling approach suggests that the selective absorption of ultraviolet radiation (UV) by DOM decreases...