An Evaluation of Several Models for Describing the Atmospheric Water-Vapor Profile above the -40 C Temperature Level.

摘要

Conventional meteorological radiosonde humidity data are not reliable above the -40 C temperature level. An evaluation of several models used to describe the water-vapor profile above the -40 C temperature level, using frost-point data obtained from the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL), revealed that a simple model performed as well as more complex models to calculate the precipitable water. This model incorporates estimates of the frost-point temperature at the tropopause calculated with a regression equation, a hygropause fixed at 1 km above the tropopause, and an interpolated value of the mixing ratio. The error in precipitable water and in the transmissivity in the 2.95 micrometer band served as the principal means for judging the performance of the models. (Author)