In this study, the radiative effect of water vapor was examined. Our technique develops a statistically significant regression relationship between the clear-sky outgoing longwave radiation (OLR) and the total integrated precipitable water (PWC). Since water vapor absorbs OLR, increases in total column water vapor (WV) should be reflected in decreased OLR and vice-versa.
In their paper, Campbell and Vonder Haar examined the relationship between surface temperature minima and maxima and clouds. (Campbell and Vonder Haar, 1996, Comparison of Surface Temperature Minimum and Maximum and Satellite Measured Cloudiness and Radiation Budget, Journal of Geophysical Research.)
CIRA scientists are members of the GERB science team. GERB is onboard the geostationary European Meteosat Second Generation satellite. The first image from GERB was taken Dec. 12, 2002, and science from GERB is just beginning.
