The thermotidal exciting function J is considered, for the absorption of solar radiation by water vapour, according to the model derived by Siebert. The Mugge-Moller formula for water vapour absorption is integrated numerically, using experimental data for the water vapour concentration in the troposphere and the stratosphere. It appears that Siebort's formula is a reasonable approximation at low tropospheric levels but it dramatically overestimates the water vapour thermotidal heating in the upper troposphere and in the stratosphere. It seems thus possible that, if the correct vertical profile is employed for J , the amplitudes and phases of the diurnal temperature oscillations and of the tidal wind speeds may suffer significant changes from those previously calculated and possibly explain the three hours delay of the observed phases from the computed values.
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