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Widespread tropical atmospheric drying from 1979 to 1995
Author(s) -
Schroeder Steven R.,
McGuirk James P.
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/98gl01029
Subject(s) - intertropical convergence zone , climatology , precipitable water , tropics , convergence zone , subtropics , environmental science , tropical atlantic , geology , geography , precipitation , meteorology , sea surface temperature , fishery , biology
A daily gridded data base of tropical precipitable water (PW) from 1979–95 shows 3% average drying from 1979–87 to 1989–95. Spatial patterns of the change are consistent with strengthening of the thermally direct overturning circulation. Moistening in most of the Inter‐Tropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), the South Pacific Convergence Zone (SPCZ), and the Americas is more than offset by drying in oceanic subtropical highs and desert land areas.