Stevens, Bjorn and Brogniez, Hélène and Kiemle, Christoph and Lacour, Jean-Lionel and Crevoisier, Cyril and Kiliani, Johannes (2017) Structure and Dynamical Influence of Water Vapor in the Lower Tropical Troposphere. Surveys in Geophysics, pp. 1371-1397. Springer. doi: 10.1007/s10712-017-9420-8. ISSN 0169-3298.
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Official URL: https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10712-017-9420-8
Abstract
In situ, airborne and satellite measurements are used to characterize the structure of water vapor in the lower tropical troposphere below the height, z�* of the triple-point isotherm, T�*. The measurements are evaluated in light of understanding of how lower tropospheric water vapor influences clouds, convection and circulation, through both radiative and thermodynamic effects. Lower-tropospheric water vapor, which concentrates in the first few kilometers above the boundary layer, controls the radiative cooling profile of the boundary layer and lower troposphere. Elevated moist layers originating from a preferred level of convective detrainment induce a profile of radiative cooling that drives circulations which reinforce such features. A theory for this preferred level of cumulus termination is advanced, whereby the difference between T� and the temperature at which primary ice forms gives a ‘first-mover advantage’ to glaciating cumulus convection, thereby concentrating the regions of the deepest convection and leading to more clouds and moisture near the triple point. A preferred level of convective detrainment near T� implies relative humidity reversals below z� which are difficult to identify using retrievals from satellite-borne microwave and infrared sounders. Isotopologues retrievals provide a hint of such features and their ability to constrain the structure of the vertical humidity profile merits further study. Nonetheless, it will likely remain challenging to resolve dynamically important aspects of the vertical structure of water vapor from space using only passive sensors.
Item URL in elib: | https://elib.dlr.de/116534/ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Document Type: | Article | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Title: | Structure and Dynamical Influence of Water Vapor in the Lower Tropical Troposphere | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Authors: |
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Date: | 26 July 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Journal or Publication Title: | Surveys in Geophysics | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Refereed publication: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Open Access: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Gold Open Access: | No | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In SCOPUS: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In ISI Web of Science: | Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DOI: | 10.1007/s10712-017-9420-8 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Page Range: | pp. 1371-1397 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Publisher: | Springer | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
ISSN: | 0169-3298 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Status: | Published | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Keywords: | Water vapor � Convection � Atmospheric circulation � Ice initiation � Remote sensing � Atmospheric measurements � Clouds | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Research field: | Aeronautics, Space and Transport | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program: | Space | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
HGF - Program Themes: | Earth Observation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research area: | Raumfahrt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Program: | R EO - Earth Observation | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
DLR - Research theme (Project): | R - LIDAR research and development | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Location: | Oberpfaffenhofen | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Institutes and Institutions: | Institute of Atmospheric Physics > Lidar | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited By: | Kiemle, Dr.rer.nat. Christoph | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deposited On: | 04 Dec 2017 11:50 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Last Modified: | 28 Jun 2023 11:32 |
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