Multidecadal Changes in the Vertical Temperature Structure of the Tropical Troposphere
Abstract
Trends in global lower tropospheric temperature derived from satellite observations since 1979 show less warming than trends based on surface meteorological observations. Independent radiosonde observations of surface and tropospheric temperatures confirm that, since 1979, there has been greater warming at the surface than aloft in the tropics. Associated lapse-rate changes show a decrease in the static stability of the atmosphere, which exceeds unforced static stability variations in climate simulations with state-of-the-art coupled ocean-atmosphere models. The differential temperature trends and lapse-rate changes seen during the satellite era are not sustained back to 1960.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Feb 18, 2000
- Source ID
- 10.1126/science.287.5456.1242
Entities
People
- Benjamin D. Santer
- Dian J. Gaffen
- James S. Boyle
- John R. Christy
- Nicholas E. Graham
- Rebecca J. Ross
Organizations
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
- Scripps Institution of Oceanography
- University of Alabama in Huntsville