Abstract
Vertically-integrated annual and monthly mean divergences of horizontal water vapour flux (∇·Q) and corresponding rates of change of water vapour storage (∂W/∂t) have been computed using aerological observations for Europe. Long-term averages for precipitation P, evapotranspiration E and runoff R are used together with the atmospheric data to elucidate the mean annual and monthly water vapour budget for Europe.
Relatively good agreement is obtained between the annual mean values of ∇·Q and E-P. However, E-P reaches a maximum around May, whereas (∂W/∂t) + ∇·Q is at its highest value two months later. As this time lag occurs in all the study areas, it seems to be of a systematic nature.
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© 1983 D. Reidel Publishing Company
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Alestalo, M. (1983). The Atmospheric Water Vapour Budget Over Europe. In: Street-Perrott, A., Beran, M., Ratcliffe, R. (eds) Variations in the Global Water Budget. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6954-4_3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-6954-4_3
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