Water Vapour in the Upper Air

  • G. M. B. Dobson
  • A. W. Brewer
Chapter

Abstract

Water vapour in the upper air plays an important part in the dynamics of the atmosphere because (1) it is a source of atmospheric energy, (2) its presence affects the release of energy, (3) it is the origin of all hydrometeors, and (4) it is the main constituent of the lower atmosphere to absorb infrared radiation. In addition the water-vapour content of the air can be used in meteorological studies as a natural “tracer” element.

Keywords

Water Vapour Lower Stratosphere Adiabatic Compression Humidity Measurement Frost Point 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in to check access.

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  1. 1.
    Barrett E. W., Herndon, L. R., Jr., and Carter, H. J., “A Preliminary Note on the Measurement of Water-Vapor Content in the Middle Stratosphere.” J. Meteor. 6: 367–368 (1949).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  2. 2.
    Brewer, A. W., ’’Evidence for a World Circulation Provided by the Measurements of Helium and Water Vapour Distribution in the Stratosphere.“ Quart. J. R. meteor. Soc., 75: 351–363 (1949).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  3. 3.
    Brewer, A. W., “Condensation Trails.” Weather, 1: 34–40 (1946).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  4. 4.
    Cwilong, B., and Dobson, G. M. B., “Measurement of Absolute Humidity in Extremely Dry Air.” Proc. phys. Soc. Lond., 60: 52–70 (1948).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  5. 5.
    Brewer, A. W., and Harrison, D. N., Direct Comparison of Aircraft and Radiosonde Temperature and Humidity Measurements. Meteor. Res. Com. Paper No. 205, Air Ministry, London, 1944.Google Scholar
  6. 6.
    Dobson G. M. B., Brewer, A. W., and Cwilong, B., “Meteorology of the Lower Stratosphere.” Proc. roy. Soc. (A) 185: 144–175 (1946).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  7. 7.
    Frith, R., Small Scale Temperature and Humidity Patterns in the Free Air. Meteor. Res. Com. Paper No. 402, Air Ministry, London, 1948.Google Scholar
  8. 8.
    Glueckauf, E., “Investigations on Absorption Hygrom eters at Low Temperatures.” Proc. phys. Soc. Lond., 59: 344–365 (1947).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  9. 9.
    Glueckauf, E., “Notes on Upper Air Hygrometry. Part II: On the Humidity in the Stratosphere.” Quart. J. R. meteor. Soc., 71: 110–114 (1945).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  10. 10.
    Glueckauf, E., and Paneth, F. A., “The Helium Content of Atmos pheric Air.” Proc. roy. Soc., (A) 185: 89–98 (1946).Google Scholar
  11. 11.
    Jaumotte, J., “Transformations thermodynamiques de la stratosphère et nuages nacrés.” Inst. R. meteor. Belg., Mem., Vol. 5 (1936).Google Scholar
  12. 12.
    Norm and, C., “Energy in the Atmosphere.” Quart. J. R.meteor. Soc. 72: 145–167 (1946). (See articles by same author in earlier papers)CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  13. 13.
    Palmer, H. P., The Wilson Cloud Chamber as a Hygrometer. Meteor. Res. Com. Paper No. 499, Air Ministry, London, 1949.Google Scholar
  14. 14.
    Regener, E., “Aufbau und Zusammensetzung der Strato sphere.” Dtsch. Akad. Luftfahrtforsch., SS. 7–48 (1940).Google Scholar
  15. 15.
    Shellard, H. C., Humidity of the Lower Stratosphere—The Results of High Level Ascents by Aircraft of the Meteorological Research Flight. Meteor. Res. Com. Paper No. 486, Air Ministry, London, 1949.Google Scholar
  16. 16.
    Simon, F. E., “A New Method of Sampling the Upper Atmosphere.” Nature, 164: 179 (1949).CrossRefGoogle Scholar
  17. 17.
    Störmer, C., “Mother-of-Pearl Clouds.” Weather, 3: 13–18 (1948).CrossRefGoogle Scholar

Copyright information

© American Meteorological Society 1951

Authors and Affiliations

  • G. M. B. Dobson
    • 1
  • A. W. Brewer
    • 1
  1. 1.The Clarendon LaboratoryOxfordUK

Personalised recommendations