Physical variation of water vapor, and the relation with carbon dioxide

Abstract

Analysis of the long term NOAA carbon dioxide flask sample records to examine the exchange among the continental Antarctic air mass and other air masses shows a meteorological variation of carbon dioxide concentration. There is an inverse relation between the seasonal variation of carbon dioxide concentration and water vapor at all stations examined. Well established diffusion coefficients indicate an interaction of water and carbon dioxide vapor on the molecular scale. Laboratory experiments using a Fourier transform spectrometer show carbon dioxide to be removed from an airstream in proportion to water vapor precipitated. We propose that interaction of carbon dioxide and water vapor in the atmosphere provides temporary sinks that can influence the balance of the carbon dioxide budget.