Measurements and modeling of the effect of convective clouds on the upper tropospheric moisture budget
- Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States)
- National Aeronautics and Space Administration, New York, NY (United States). Goddard Inst. for Space Studies
The goal of this study is to determine the upper tropospheric moisture budget associated with convective events, and in particular to extend process models to higher altitudes than have been achieved previously. Although upper tropospheric moisture concentrations are several orders of magnitude lower than those near the surface, upper tropospheric moisture exerts an important influence on climate. On a per-molecule basis, greenhouse absorption due to water vapor is about one hundred times more effective at high altitudes than at low altitudes. Several one-dimensional radiative convective models have been used to demonstrate the importance of upper tropospheric moisture on climate. These models show that for a given fractional increase in water vapor at a given altitude the response or change in surface temperature is qualitatively the same. At present, considerable controversy exists over the nature of the vertical redistribution of water vapor in a changing climate, and particularly the distribution of water vapor in the upper troposphere. Lacking suitable data, this controversy is also reflected in the cumulus parameterization schemes that are currently used in models. Understanding upper tropospheric moistening processes are therefore of prime importance in addressing the water vapor feedback question.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Labs., Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-76DR00789
- OSTI ID:
- 10152234
- Report Number(s):
- SAND--94-8595C; CONF-940277--3; ON: DE94012239
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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