Articles | Volume 28, issue 9
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2123-2024
https://doi.org/10.5194/hess-28-2123-2024
Research article
 | 
15 May 2024
Research article |  | 15 May 2024

Global total precipitable water variations and trends over the period 1958–2021

Nenghan Wan, Xiaomao Lin, Roger A. Pielke Sr., Xubin Zeng, and Amanda M. Nelson

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Cited articles

AIRS Science Team and Teixeira, J.: AIRS/Aqua L3 Daily Standard Physical Retrieval (AIRS-only) 1 degree × 1 degree V006, Greenbelt, MD, USA, Goddard Earth Sciences Data and Information Services Center (GES DISC) [data set], https://doi.org/10.5067/Aqua/AIRS/DATA303, 2013. 
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Short summary
Global warming occurs at a rate of 0.21 K per decade, resulting in about 9.5 % K−1 of water vapor response to temperature from 1993 to 2021. Terrestrial areas experienced greater warming than the ocean, with a ratio of 2 : 1. The total precipitable water change in response to surface temperature changes showed a variation around 6 % K−1–8 % K−1 in the 15–55° N latitude band. Further studies are needed to identify the mechanisms leading to different water vapor responses.
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