Atmospheric water vapor over the subtropical oceans
Abstract
Atmospheric water vapor is an important part of the Earth's hydrological cycle and plays a crucial role in many aspects of the climate system. The main source of the atmospheric moisture are the oceans, but the information we have about the distribution of atmospheric water vapor over the oceans is based on a relatively sparse distribution of radiosonde profiles, or on satellite-based measurements from microwave radiometers. The Marine-Atmosphere Emitted Radiance Interferometer (M-AERI) is a sea-going instrument that measures spectra of atmospheric infrared emission with ~10 minute temporal resolution. These spectra can be used to retrieve profiles of temperature and humidity in the atmosphere, and can thus be employed for continuous monitoring of the distribution of temperature and humidity in the marine atmosphere. M-AERI measurements can also be used to validate both modeling results and satellite measurements. This study compares ship-based measurements of atmospheric water vapor path from the M-AERI, radiosondes, and an upward-looking microwave radiometer. The data come from a two-month deployment in the Caribbean Sea on the RCCL Explorer of the Seas and during a month long cruise on the USCGC Healy. The measurements are compared with results from global circulation models NCEP and ECMWF. A comparison of satellite retrieved profiles of atmospheric water vapor from the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) with M-AERI measurements is discussed in a presentation in session A.19.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2004
- Bibcode:
- 2004AGUFM.H23D1165S
- Keywords:
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- 3360 Remote sensing;
- 1655 Water cycles (1836);
- 0365 Troposphere: composition and chemistry;
- 0394 Instruments and techniques