RT Journal Article T1 Penetration of ultraviolet‐B radiation in oligotrophic regions of the oceans during the Malaspina 2010 expedition A1 Overmans, S. A1 Duarte, C. M. A1 Sobrino García, Maria Cristina A1 Iuculano, F. A1 Álvarez Salgado, X. A. A1 Agustí, S. K1 2510.01 Oceanografía Biológica AB Few studies have investigated ultraviolet (UV) radiation in the open ocean besides its harmful effects on organisms and influence on biogeochemical processes. Here, we assessed UV attenuation, with particular focus on UV‐B, across the (sub)tropical ocean during the Malaspina 2010 Circumnavigation. Vertical UV radiometer profiles together with Chl‐ a concentration, and UV absorption by CDOM ( a CDOM ( λ )) and by suspended particulate matter ( a p ( λ )) were measured at 117 stations. At photosynthetically active radiation (PAR) and across UV‐A and UV‐B wavelengths, the lowest downwelling attenuation coefficients ( K d ) during the expedition were recorded in ultra‐oligotrophic regions at 5°–15°S (mean K d (305 nm): 0.129 m −1 , mean K d (313 nm): 0.107 m −1 ) in the Indian and South Pacific Oceans. The waters here were comparatively more transparent than at 5°–15°N (mean K d (305 nm): 0.239 m −1 , mean K d (313 nm): 0.181 m −1 ) where equatorial upwelling occurs. K d was highest near the Costa Rica Dome ( K d (313 nm): 0.226 m −1 ) and at the confluence of the Benguela and Agulhas currents ( K d (313 nm): 0.251 m −1 ). The contribution of a p ( λ ) toward nonwater absorption ( a nw ( λ )) was significantly lower at 305 nm than at 313 and 320 nm, suggesting the contribution of absorption by detritus and phytoplankton particles decreases compared with that of CDOM absorption as UV‐B wavelength decreases. Both a CDOM ( λ ) and a p ( λ ) at UV‐B wavelengths were lowest in the Indian Ocean whereas K d was lowest in the South Pacific. This finding emphasizes that other factors besides absorption, such as scattering by reflective phytoplankton or inorganic particles, strongly influence UV‐B attenuation in open ocean waters. PB Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans SN 21699275 YR 2022 FD 2022-05 LK http://hdl.handle.net/11093/6222 UL http://hdl.handle.net/11093/6222 LA eng NO Journal of Geophysical Research Oceans, 127(5): e2021JC017654-e2021JC017654 (2022) NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación | Ref. CSD2008-00077 DS Investigo RD 19-sep-2024