Distribution of tropical tropospheric water vapor
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge (United States)
Utilizing a conceptual model for tropical convection and observational data for water vapor, the maintenance of the vertical distribution of the tropical tropospheric water vapor is discussed. While deep convection induces large-scale subsidence that constrains the turbulent downgradient mixing to within the convective boundary layer and effectively dries the troposphere through downward advection, it also pumps hydrometers into the upper troposphere, whose subsequent evaporation appears to be the major source of moisture for the large-scale subsiding motion. The development of upper-level clouds and precipitation from these clouds may also act to dry the outflow, thus explaining the low relative humidity near the tropopause. A one-dimensional model is developed to simulate the mean vertical structure of water vapor in the tropical troposphere. It is also shown that the horizontal variation of water vapor in the tropical troposphere above the trade-wind boundary layer can be explained by the variation of a moisture source that is proportional to the amount of upper-level clouds. Implications for the nature of water vapor feedback in global warming are discussed. 44 refs., 20 figs.
- OSTI ID:
- 5899207
- Journal Information:
- Journal of the Atmospheric Sciences; (United States), Vol. 50:12; ISSN 0022-4928
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
TROPICAL REGIONS
HUMIDITY
TROPOSPHERE
WATER VAPOR
DISTRIBUTION
ADVECTION
ATMOSPHERIC CIRCULATION
CLOUDS
CONVECTION
GREENHOUSE EFFECT
GREENHOUSE GASES
METEOROLOGY
STRATIFICATION
TROPOPAUSE
CLIMATIC CHANGE
EARTH ATMOSPHERE
ENERGY TRANSFER
FLUIDS
GASES
HEAT TRANSFER
MASS TRANSFER
VAPORS
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
540110