On the interpretation of integrated water vapor patterns in midlatitude cyclones derived from the Nimbus 7 scanning multichannel microwave radiometer

The present exploration of methods for the interpretation of the Nimbus 7 satellite's Scanning Multichannel Microwave Radiometer (SMMR) vapor patterns and the ways in which they relate to the dynamical structure of individual midlatitude storms employs gridded meteorological data from the First GARP Global Experiment special observing period in order to calculate diagnostic quantities. SMMR patterns for a storm at a weak stage determined from the diagnostic quantities are compared with SMMR patterns for the storm at a stronger stage. A more complete interpretation of the SMMR patterns emerges from these considerations.