Water Vapor - NASA Earth Observatory
Heat radiated from Earth's surface is absorbed by water vapor molecules in the lower atmosphere. The water vapor molecules, in turn, radiate heat in all directions. Some of the heat returns to the Earth's surface. Thus, water vapor is a second source of warmth (in addition to sunlight) at the Earth's surface.
The Water Cycle - NASA Earth Observatory
Water vapor—and with it energy—is carried around the globe by weather systems. This satellite image shows the distribution of water vapor over Africa and the Atlantic Ocean. White areas have high concentrations of water vapor, while dark regions are relatively dry.
Sea Surface Temperature & Water Vapor - NASA Earth Observatory
The water vapor maps show the total amount of water vapor in the column of air between the surface and the top of the atmosphere on average for the month. The observations were made by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite. Places where the air was dry are white, while places where water vapor was abundant are blue.
Water Vapor & Cloud Fraction - NASA Earth Observatory
The water vapor maps show the total amount of water vapor in the column of air between the surface and the top of the atmosphere on average for the month. The observations were made by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite. Places where the air was dry are white, while places where water vapor was abundant are blue.
The Water Cycle - NASA Earth Observatory
Together, evaporation, transpiration, and sublimation, plus volcanic emissions, account for almost all the water vapor in the atmosphere that isn’t inserted through human activities. While evaporation from the oceans is the primary vehicle for driving the surface-to-atmosphere portion of the hydrologic cycle, transpiration is also significant.
Will Runaway Water Warm the World? - NASA Earth Observatory
“Water vapor is the most important greenhouse gas in the atmosphere,” says Steven Sherwood, a professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics at Yale University. As anyone who lives in a humid climate can attest, water traps heat being radiated from the Earth.
Seeing Leaves in a New Light - NASA Earth Observatory
Over a forest canopy or a vast expanse of grassland, large amounts of transpiration can markedly increase water vapor in the atmosphere, causing more precipitation and cloud cover in an area. The additional cloud cover often reinforces the cooling by blocking sunlight.
First Global Water Vapor Map from OSTM - NASA Earth Observatory
The image above shows the first results from this sensor, the Advanced Microwave Radiometer: a global map of the amount of water vapor in the atmosphere beneath the satellite from June 22–28, 2008. The time span was the first week of operations for OSTM’s science instruments.
Will Runaway Water Warm the World? - NASA Earth Observatory
The Microwave Limb Sounder (MLS) and the Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) have been taking regular measurements of water vapor in the upper troposphere since late 1991, giving the scientific community its first look at what was actually going …
Aerosol Size & Water Vapor - NASA Earth Observatory
The water vapor maps show the total amount of water vapor in the column of air between the surface and the top of the atmosphere on average for the month. The observations were made by the MODIS sensor on NASA's Aqua satellite. Places where the air was dry are white, while places where water vapor was abundant are blue.