Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 7, 2026
13:27
Exploring the Effects of Atmospheric Forcings on Evaporation: Experimental Integration of the Atmospheric Boundary Layer and Shallow Subsurface
Published on: June 8, 2015
Stratospheric water vapor feedback
A E Dessler1, M R Schoeberl, T Wang
1Department of Atmospheric Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843.
Summary
Stratospheric water vapor variations significantly impact climate evolution. Increased stratospheric water vapor due to rising global temperatures creates a positive feedback loop, enhancing climate sensitivity.
Area of Science:
- Climate Science
- Atmospheric Chemistry
- Radiative Transfer
Background:
- Stratospheric water vapor is a key component of Earth's climate system.
- Understanding its variability and feedback mechanisms is crucial for accurate climate projections.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the role of stratospheric water vapor variations in climate change.
- To quantify the stratospheric water vapor feedback and its contribution to climate sensitivity.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of observational data linking stratospheric water vapor to tropospheric temperature.
- Utilizing a chemistry-climate model to estimate the strength of the water vapor feedback.
Main Results:
- A positive feedback loop was identified: stratospheric water vapor increases with tropospheric temperature.
- The estimated strength of this stratospheric water vapor feedback is +0.3 W/(m(2)⋅K).
- This feedback is driven by increased water vapor entry through both tropical and extratropical tropopause layers.
Conclusions:
- Stratospheric water vapor variations are a significant factor in climate evolution.
- The identified water vapor feedback substantially contributes to overall climate sensitivity.
- Both tropical and extratropical pathways influence this critical climate feedback mechanism.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
02:39Phase Transitions: Vaporization and Condensation
The physical form of a substance changes on changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. Vaporization occurs when the thermal motion of the molecules overcome the intermolecular forces, and the molecules (at the surface) escape into the gaseous state. When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules...
03:28Vapor Pressure Lowering
The equilibrium vapor pressure of a liquid is the pressure exerted by its gaseous phase when vaporization and condensation are occurring at equal rates: Dissolving a nonvolatile substance in volatile liquid results in a lowering of the liquid’s vapor pressure. This phenomenon can be explained by considering the effect of added solute molecules on the liquid's vaporization and condensation processes. To vaporize, solvent molecules must be present at the surface of the solution. The presence of...
01:00The Water Cycle
The Earth’s hydrosphere includes all of the areas where the storage and movement of water occurs. Since water is the basis of all living processes, the cycling of water is extremely important to ecosystem dynamics.
01:18Vaporization
The physical form of a substance changes by changing its temperature. For example, raising the temperature of a liquid causes the liquid to vaporize (convert into vapor). The process is called vaporization—a surface phenomenon. For vaporization to occur, kinetic energy must be greater than the intermolecular forces that keep molecules bonded. The amount of energy needed to vaporize a quantity of liquid at a given pressure and a constant temperature is called the heat of vaporization. When...
02:34Vapor Pressure
When a liquid vaporizes in a closed container, gas molecules cannot escape. As these gas phase molecules move randomly about, they will occasionally collide with the surface of the condensed phase, and in some cases, these collisions will result in the molecules re-entering the condensed phase. The change from the gas phase to the liquid is called condensation. When the rate of condensation becomes equal to the rate of vaporization, neither the amount of the liquid nor the amount of the vapor...
01:28Vapor Pressure of Fluid
The vapor pressure of a fluid is a crucial concept in fluid mechanics, influencing phenomena such as boiling and cavitation. Vapor pressure refers to the pressure exerted by a vapor at a state of thermodynamic equilibrium with its corresponding liquid phase at a specific temperature. It represents the tendency of molecules to escape from the fluid surface into the vapor phase.
When a liquid is placed in a closed container with a small air space, and the space is evacuated, vapor molecules will...
When a liquid is placed in a closed container with a small air space, and the space is evacuated, vapor molecules will...