Why measure water vapor?
Water vapor is an essential link in the water (hydrologic) cycle, which includes all forms of water (gas, liquid, ice, and snow). Also, water vapor is the main ingredient in cloud formation (which impacts precipitation) and in severe storm development. It is an invisible gas and acts as a buffer for the rise and fall of temperatures in the atmosphere. Once the temperature drops to the dew point, water vapor condenses, releasing heat, and the temperature rises again. Conversely, as temperature rises, water evaporates, taking up heat and cooling the atmosphere. Water vapor, a greenhouse gas, also influences the Earth’s radiation budget by absorbing outgoing longwave energy. In addition, water vapor channels energy into the atmosphere and is the main energy source for hurricane development. Cloud and aerosol measurements Simultaneous measurements of clouds and aerosols enhance water vapor investigations conducted using LASE, which can provide additional important information on atmospheri
