Recent measurements of water vapor in the TTL by the JPL Laser Hygrometer
Abstract
The NASA Tropical Composition, Clouds and Climate Coupling Experiment (TC4) was a major effort combining satellite, aircraft, balloon, and ground-based measurements to study the tropical tropopause layer (TTL). One of the goals of this mission was to better understand the behavior and distribution of water in the TTL, which is important to climate through the greenhouse effect and the radiative impact of clouds. Here, we present new measurements of water vapor in the TTL measured by the JPL Laser Hygrometer (JLH) on the WB-57 aircraft during TC4. JLH utilized both harmonic and direct-absorption spectroscopy to measure water vapor. JLH water vapor profiles are compared with EOS MLS satellite retrievals as well as the Cryogenic Frostpoint Hygrometer. These results have been verified by recent laboratory measurements by JLH. We will discuss the implications of these profiles for theories of cloud formation in the TTL.
- Publication:
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AGU Fall Meeting Abstracts
- Pub Date:
- December 2007
- Bibcode:
- 2007AGUFM.A13C1358H
- Keywords:
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- 0300 ATMOSPHERIC COMPOSITION AND STRUCTURE;
- 0340 Middle atmosphere: composition and chemistry