Interannual and intraannual variations in total precipitable water over the North Atlantic from satellite microwave measurements

Abstract

Based on the long-term data of satellite microwave radiometers, the estimates are obtained of interannual and intraannual variations in monthly mean values of total precipitable water in the atmosphere over the North Atlantic from 1988 to 2011, in particular, in the regions characterized by the maximum rate of heat and moisture exchange between the ocean and atmosphere such as the Gulf Stream, Newfoundland, and Norway-Greenland energy-active zones. Long-term trends in total precipitable water in the atmosphere over these regions are estimated. The variations in total precipitable water in the atmosphere in 2010 are noted which were caused by oil spills in the Gulf of Mexico (the spring of 2010) and by the severe drought in the European part of Russia (the summer of 2010).