Variability of moisture in the upper troposphere as inferred from TOVS satellite observations and the ECMWF model analyses in 1989

Abstract

Large-scale variability of moisture in the upper troposphere is examined using TIROS (Television Infrared Observation Satellite) Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) satellite observations and ECMWF model analyses from 1989 in the latitude band from 40°N to 40°S. To compare these dissimilar datasets, upwelling radiances were computed for the 6-7-μm water vapor band from the ECMWF temperature and moisture analyses, and these computed radiances were compared to the corresponding TOVS satellite observations. The TOVS radiance observations indicate large variations in space and time of the upper-tropospheric moisture field, which are not fully captured by the ECMWF analyses. -from Authors