Journal Article

FZJ-2014-07158

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Technical Note: Reanalysis of upper troposphere humidity data from the MOZAIC programme for the period 1994 to 2009

Smit, H. G. J. (Corresponding Author)FZJ* ; Rohs, S.FZJ* ; Neis, P.FZJ* ; Boulanger, D. ; Krämer, M.FZJ* ; Wahner, A.FZJ* ; Petzold, A.FZJ*

2014
EGU Katlenburg-Lindau

This record in other databases:  

Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.5194/acp-14-13241-2014

Abstract: In situ observational data on the relative humidity (RH) in the upper troposphere and lowermost stratosphere (UT/LS), or tropopause region, collected aboard civil passenger aircraft in the MOZAIC (Measurements of OZone, water vapour, carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides by in-service AIrbus airCraft) programme were reanalysed for the period 2000 to 2009. Previous analyses of probability distribution functions (PDFs) of upper troposphere humidity (UTH) data from MOZAIC observations from year 2000 and later indicated a bias of UTH data towards higher RH values compared to data of the period 1994 to 1999. As a result, the PDF of UTH data show a substantial fraction of observations above 100% relative humidity with respect to liquid water. Such supersaturations, however, do not occur in the atmosphere because there is always a sufficient number of condensation nuclei available, that trigger condensation as soon as liquid saturation is slightly exceeded. An in-depth reanalysis of the data set identified a coding error in the calibration procedure from year 2000 on. The error did not affect earlier data from 1994 to 1999. The full data set for 2000–2009 was reanalysed applying the corrected calibration procedure. Applied correction schemes and a revised error analysis are presented along with the reanalysed PDF of relative humidity with respect to liquid water (RHliquid) and ice (RHice).

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Stratosphäre (IEK-7)
2. Troposphäre (IEK-8)

Research Program(s):

1. 234 - Composition and Dynamics of the Upper Troposphere and Stratosphere (POF2-234) (POF2-234)
2. 233 - Trace gas and aerosol processes in the troposphere (POF2-233) (POF2-233)
3. HITEC - Helmholtz Interdisciplinary Doctoral Training in Energy and Climate Research (HITEC) (HITEC-20170406) (HITEC-20170406)

Appears in the scientific report 2014

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Database coverage:
; ; ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; IF >= 5 ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Thomson Reuters Master Journal List ; Web of Science Core Collection

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