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Positive water vapour feedback in climate models confirmed by satellite dataIt has recently been suggested that GCMs used to evaluate climate change overestimate the greenhouse effect due to increased concentrations of trace gases in the atmosphere. Here, new satellite-generated water vapor data are used to compare summer and winter moisture values in regions of the middle and upper troposphere that have previously been difficult to observe with confidence. It is found that, as the hemispheres warm, increased convection leads to increased water vapor above 500 mbar in approximate quantitative agreement with results from current climate models. The same conclusion is reached by comparing the tropical western and eastern Pacific regions. Thus, water vapor feedback is not overestimated in models and should amplify the climate response to increased trace-gas concentrations.
Document ID
19910041575
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
External Source(s)
Authors
Rind, D.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Lerner, J.
(NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies New York, United States)
Chiou, E.-W.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Chu, W.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Larsen, J.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Mccormick, M. P.
(NASA Goddard Inst. for Space Studies New York, NY, United States)
Mcmaster, L.
(NASA Langley Research Center Hampton, VA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 14, 2013
Publication Date
February 7, 1991
Publication Information
Publication: Nature
Volume: 349
ISSN: 0028-0836
Subject Category
Meteorology And Climatology
Accession Number
91A26198
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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