Comparison of Atmospheric Water Vapor in Observational and Model Data Sets.

摘要

The distribution of water vapor in the atmosphere in a real sense is what makes weather and climate. Water vapor is the most active greenhouse gas and through feedbacks exerts a powerful influence on the climate system. Details of the distribution are undergoing even closer examination in the context of global warming studies. In order to assess the magnitudes and nature of the vapor feedbacks the distribution both horizontally and vertically must be known to a fairly high degree of accuracy, more accurately than it is now known. This paper compares the monthly mean water vapor content in five global, observationally based data sets and three integrations of the NCAR Community Climate Model 3/Climate System Model (CCM3/CSM). Differences in the observational data sets provide a context in which to evaluate the products of the GCM integrations.