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Tropospheric Temperature and Humidity
Introduction
Warm equatorial water (Pathfinder SST data) heats the surface layers of the atmosphere above. The increased warmth of both sea and atmosphere encourages increased evaporation and resulting higher humidity. Atmospheric Hadley cell circulation results in hot, moist air being injected into the troposphere (UARS MLS data). Towering tropical thunderclouds are markers of this circulation pattern. The El Niño or La Niña events warm the tropical equatorial waters in different regions (eastern tropical Pacific rather than western tropical Pacific).
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Tropospheric Temperature Anomalies (TOVS MSU) |
(Tropospheric Humidity) |
The 1997-98 El Niño caused strong lower tropospheric warming in late 1997 (TOVS MSU data), and record warmth in February 1998. April and May 1998 were nearly +0.7° C above the base period mean of 1982-91. The increased humidity even at elevations of 10-22 km can affect the locations of the jet streams. The variations in the locations of the jet streams in turn affect the weather patterns around the globe.
Jump to 'Tropospheric Temperature and Humidity' List of Web Sites
Disclaimer: NASA offers these suggested sites for additional information regarding effects of El Niño and La Niña teleconnection events. Web access is required to reach these sites. Link existence and contents are not under the control of the EOSDIS Science Operations Office.
Tropospheric Temperature and Humidity Web Sites
