Atmospheric Water Vapor Characteristics at 70°N

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Abstract
Using an extensive rawinsonde archive, characteristics of Arctic water vapor and its transports at 70°N are examined for the period 1974–1991. Monthly-mean profiles and vertically integrated values of specific humidity and meridional vapor fluxes are computed for land stations north of 65°N for the surface up to 300 mb using once to twice daily soundings. Mean values at 70°N for these and other variables, including temperature and meridional winds, are obtained through an objective analysis of the monthly station means. The annual zonal mean specific humidity at 70°N ranges from 2.4 g kg−1 at the surface to 0.02 g kg−1 at 300 mb. Zonal-mean precipitable water ranges from 2.9 mm in February and March to 16.2 mm in July. For all months, over 95% of water vapor is found below 500 mb. Although mean winds are equatorward up to about 400 mb, the tendency for poleward winds to transport more water vapor results in a poleward annual-mean flux at all levels except at the surface, peaking at 1.5 g kg−1 m s... Abstract Using an extensive rawinsonde archive, characteristics of Arctic water vapor and its transports at 70°N are examined for the period 1974–1991. Monthly-mean profiles and vertically integrated values of specific humidity and meridional vapor fluxes are computed for land stations north of 65°N for the surface up to 300 mb using once to twice daily soundings. Mean values at 70°N for these and other variables, including temperature and meridional winds, are obtained through an objective analysis of the monthly station means. The annual zonal mean specific humidity at 70°N ranges from 2.4 g kg−1 at the surface to 0.02 g kg−1 at 300 mb. Zonal-mean precipitable water ranges from 2.9 mm in February and March to 16.2 mm in July. For all months, over 95% of water vapor is found below 500 mb. Although mean winds are equatorward up to about 400 mb, the tendency for poleward winds to transport more water vapor results in a poleward annual-mean flux at all levels except at the surface, peaking at 1.5 g kg−1 m s...

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