Abstract
Abstract Atmospheric moisture budget components are evaluated for a large area (1.23 × 106 km2) in the midwestern United States for all 12-h (1200–0000, 0000–1200 UTC) and 24-h (1200–1200 UTC) periods during the contrasting summers (May–August) of 1975, 1976, 1979, and 1988. The atmospheric moisture flux divergence (MFD, separated into horizontal and vertical advection components, HA and VA) and storage change (dPW) are estimated using a standard finite-difference method applied to objectively analyzed U.S. and Canadian rawinsonde data (50-hPa vertical resolution, surface–300 hPa) for 0000 and 1200 UTC. Area-averaged precipitation (P) totals are derived from approximately 600 relatively evenly distributed (but ungridded) recording rain gauges. Evapotranspiration (E) is estimated as a residual of the moisture budget equation and compares favorably with the few existing observations, especially when totaled for periods of 1 month or longer. Relationships between the budget components are established for the...
Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
