The trend of stratospheric water vapor as a function of latitude is estimated by the MIPAS measurements by means of a new method that uses the measurement space solution. The method uses all the information provided by the observations avoiding the artifacts introduced by the a priori information and by the interpolation to different vertical grids. The analysis provides very precise values of the trends that, however, are limited by a relatively large systematic error induced by the radiometric calibration error of the instrument. The results show in the five years from 2005 to 2009 a dependence on latitude of the stratospheric (from 37 to 53 km) water vapor trend with a positive value of (0.41 ± 0.16)%yr⁻¹ in the northern hemisphere and less than 0.16%yr⁻¹ in the southern hemisphere.

© 2011 OSA

1. J. T. Kiehl and K. E. Trenberth, “Earths annual global mean energy budget,” Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 78, 197–208 (1997). [CrossRef]
2. I.M. Held and B.J. Soden, “Water vapor feedback and global warming,” Annu. Rev. Energy Environ. 25, 441–475 (2000). [CrossRef]
3. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , edited by: S. Solomon, D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor, and H.L. Miller, (Cambridge University Press, 2007). [PubMed]
4. S. Salomon, K. H. Rosenlof, R. W. Portmann, J. S. Daniel, S. M. Davis, T. J. Sanford, and G. K. Plattner, “Contributions of stratospheric water vapor to decadal changes in the rate of global warming,” Science , 327, 1219–1223 (2010). [CrossRef]
5. D. Kley, J. M. Russell, and C. Phillips, “SPARC Assessment of Upper Tropospheric and Stratospheric Water Vapour,” WCRP Report No. 113, WMO/TD Report No. 1043, World Climate Research Programme, Geneva, 325 pp. (2000).
6. K. H. Rosenlof, S. J. Oltmans, D. Kley, J. M. Russell, E. W. Chiou, W. P. Chu, D. G. Johnson, K. K. Kelly, H. A. Michelsen, G. E. Nedoluha, E. E. Remsberg, G. C. Toon, and M. P. McCormick, “Stratospheric water vapor increases over the past half-century,” Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 1195–1198 (2001). [CrossRef]
7. M. Scherer, H. Vomel, S. Fueglistaler, S. J. Oltmans, and J. Staehelin, “Trends and variability of midlatitude stratospheric water vapour deduced from the re-evaluated Boulder balloon series and HALOE,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 8, 1391–1402 (2008). [CrossRef]
8. J. M. Russell, L. L. Gordley, J. H. Park, S. R. Drayson, W. D. Hesketh, R. J. Cicerone, A. F. Tuck, J. E. Frederick, J. E. Harries, and P. J. Crutzen, “The halogen occultation experiment,” J. Geophys. Res. 98, 10777–10797 (1993). [CrossRef]
9. S. J. Oltmans, H. Vomel, D. J. Hofmann, K. H. Rosenlof, and D. Kley, “The increase in stratospheric water vapor from balloon borne, frostpoint hygrometer measurements at Washington, DC, and Boulder, Colorado,” Geophys. Res. Lett. 27, 3453–3456 (2000). [CrossRef]
10. D. J. Seidel, R. J. Ross, J. K. Angell, and G. C. Reid, “Climatological characteristics of the tropical tropopause as revealed by radiosondes,” J. Geophys. Res. 106, 7857–7878 (2001). [CrossRef]
11. X. L. Zhou, M. A. Geller, and M. H. Zhang, “Cooling trend of the tropical cold point tropopause temperatures and its implications,” J. Geophys. Res. 106, 1511–1522 (2001). [CrossRef]
12. G. E. Nedoluha, R. M. Bevilacqua, R. M. Gomez, B. C. Hicks, J. M. Russell, and B. J. Connor, “An evaluation of trends in middle atmospheric water vapor as measured by HALOE, WVMS, and POAM,” J. Geophys. Res. 108, 4391–4400 (2003). [CrossRef]
13. W. J. Randel, F. Wu, S. J. Oltmans, K. Rosenlof, and G. E. Nedoluha, “Interannual changes of stratospheric water vapor and correlations with tropical tropopause temperatures,” J. Atmos. Sci. 61, 2133–2148 (2004). [CrossRef]
14. A. Jones, J. Urban, D. P. Murtagh, P. Eriksson, S. Brohede, C. Haley, D. Degenstein, A. Bourassa, C. von Savigny, T. Sonkaew, A. Rozanov, H. Bovensmann, and J. Burrows, “Evolution of stratospheric ozone and water vapor time series studied with satellite measurements,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 9, 6055–6075 (2009). [CrossRef]
15. H. Fischer, M. Birk, C. Blom, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, Tv Clarmann, L. Delbouille, A. Dudhia, D. Ehhalt, M. Endemann, J. M Flaud, R. Gessner, A. Kleinert, R. Koopman, J. Langen, M. Lpez-Puertas, P. Mosner, H. Nett, H. Oelhaf, G. Perron, J. Remedios, M. Ridolfi, G. Stiller, and R. Zander, “MIPAS: an instrument for atmospheric and climate research,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 8, 2151–2188 (2008). [CrossRef]
16. C. D. Rodgers, Inverse Methods for Atmospheric Sounding: Theory and Practice, Vol. 2 of Series on Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (World Scientific, 2000). [CrossRef]
17. B. Carli, P. Raspollini, M. Ridolfi, and B. M. Dinelli, “Discrete representation and resampling in limb-sounding measurements,” Appl. Opt. 40, 1261–1268 (2001). [CrossRef]
18. S. Ceccherini, P. Raspollini, and B. Carli, “Optimal use of the information provided by indirect measurements of atmospheric vertical profiles,” Opt. Express 17, 4944–4958 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
19. S. Ceccherini, B. Carli, U. Cortesi, S. Del Bianco, and P. Raspollini, “Retrieval of the vertical column of an atmospheric constituent from data fusion of remote sensing measurements,” J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. 111, 507–514 (2010). [CrossRef]
20. S. Ceccherini, U. Cortesi, S. Del Bianco, P. Raspollini, and B. Carli, “IASI-METOP and MIPAS-ENVISAT data fusion,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 10, 4689–4698 (2010). [CrossRef]
21. S. Ceccherini, B. Carli, E. Pascale, M. Prosperi, P. Raspollini, and B. M. Dinelli, “Comparison of measurements made with two different instruments of the same atmospheric vertical profile,” Appl. Opt. 42, 6465–6473 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
22. M. Ridolfi, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, T. v. Clarmann, B. M. Dinelli, A. Dudhia, J. M. Flaud, M. Hpfner, P. E. Morris, P. Raspollini, G. Stiller, and R. J. Wells, “Optimized forward model and retrieval scheme for MIPAS near-real-time data processing,” Appl. Opt. 39, 1323–1340 (2000). [CrossRef]
23. P. Raspollini, C. Belotti, A. Burgess, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, S. Ceccherini, B. M. Dinelli, A. Dudhia, J. M. Flaud, B. Funke, M. Hpfner, M. Lpez-Puertas, V. Payne, C. Piccolo, J. J. Remedios, M. Ridolfi, and R. Spang, “MIPAS level 2 operational analysis,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 6, 5605–5630 (2006). [CrossRef]
24. S. Ceccherini, “Analytical determination of the regularization parameter in the retrieval of atmospheric vertical profiles,” Opt. Lett. 30, 2554–2556 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
25. S. Ceccherini, C. Belotti, B. Carli, P. Raspollini, and M. Ridolfi, “Technical Note: Regularization performances with the error consistency method in the case of retrieved atmospheric profiles,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 7, 1435–1440 (2007). [CrossRef]
26. A. Dudhia, V. L. Jay, and C. D. Rodgers, “Microwindow selection for high-spectral-resolution sounders,” Appl. Opt. 41, 3665–3673 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
27. European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, “91 model level definitions,” http://www.ecmwf.int/products/data/technical/model_levels/model_def_91.html (2007).
28. J. J. Remedios, R. J. Leigh, A. M. Waterfall, D. P. Moore, H. Sembhi, I. Parkes, J. Greenhough, M. P. Chipperfield, and D. Hauglustaine, “MIPAS reference atmospheres and comparisons to V4.61/V4.62 MIPAS level 2 geophysical data sets,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. 7, 9973–10017 (2007). [CrossRef]
29. M. A. Geller, X. L. Zhou, and M. H. Zhang, “Simulations of the interannual variability stratospheric water vapor,” J. Atmos. Sci. 59, 1076–1085 (2002). [CrossRef]
30. M. Birk German Aerospace Center, Remote Sensing Technology Institute, Experimental Methods, Münchner Straße 20, Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling 82234 (personal communication, 2011).

Annu. Rev. Energy Environ.

• I.M. Held and B.J. Soden, “Water vapor feedback and global warming,” Annu. Rev. Energy Environ. 25, 441–475 (2000). [CrossRef]

Appl. Opt.

• B. Carli, P. Raspollini, M. Ridolfi, and B. M. Dinelli, “Discrete representation and resampling in limb-sounding measurements,” Appl. Opt. 40, 1261–1268 (2001). [CrossRef]
• S. Ceccherini, B. Carli, E. Pascale, M. Prosperi, P. Raspollini, and B. M. Dinelli, “Comparison of measurements made with two different instruments of the same atmospheric vertical profile,” Appl. Opt. 42, 6465–6473 (2003). [CrossRef] [PubMed]
• M. Ridolfi, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, T. v. Clarmann, B. M. Dinelli, A. Dudhia, J. M. Flaud, M. Hpfner, P. E. Morris, P. Raspollini, G. Stiller, and R. J. Wells, “Optimized forward model and retrieval scheme for MIPAS near-real-time data processing,” Appl. Opt. 39, 1323–1340 (2000). [CrossRef]
• A. Dudhia, V. L. Jay, and C. D. Rodgers, “Microwindow selection for high-spectral-resolution sounders,” Appl. Opt. 41, 3665–3673 (2002). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Atmos. Chem. Phys.

• P. Raspollini, C. Belotti, A. Burgess, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, S. Ceccherini, B. M. Dinelli, A. Dudhia, J. M. Flaud, B. Funke, M. Hpfner, M. Lpez-Puertas, V. Payne, C. Piccolo, J. J. Remedios, M. Ridolfi, and R. Spang, “MIPAS level 2 operational analysis,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 6, 5605–5630 (2006). [CrossRef]
• S. Ceccherini, U. Cortesi, S. Del Bianco, P. Raspollini, and B. Carli, “IASI-METOP and MIPAS-ENVISAT data fusion,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 10, 4689–4698 (2010). [CrossRef]
• S. Ceccherini, C. Belotti, B. Carli, P. Raspollini, and M. Ridolfi, “Technical Note: Regularization performances with the error consistency method in the case of retrieved atmospheric profiles,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 7, 1435–1440 (2007). [CrossRef]
• A. Jones, J. Urban, D. P. Murtagh, P. Eriksson, S. Brohede, C. Haley, D. Degenstein, A. Bourassa, C. von Savigny, T. Sonkaew, A. Rozanov, H. Bovensmann, and J. Burrows, “Evolution of stratospheric ozone and water vapor time series studied with satellite measurements,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 9, 6055–6075 (2009). [CrossRef]
• H. Fischer, M. Birk, C. Blom, B. Carli, M. Carlotti, Tv Clarmann, L. Delbouille, A. Dudhia, D. Ehhalt, M. Endemann, J. M Flaud, R. Gessner, A. Kleinert, R. Koopman, J. Langen, M. Lpez-Puertas, P. Mosner, H. Nett, H. Oelhaf, G. Perron, J. Remedios, M. Ridolfi, G. Stiller, and R. Zander, “MIPAS: an instrument for atmospheric and climate research,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 8, 2151–2188 (2008). [CrossRef]
• M. Scherer, H. Vomel, S. Fueglistaler, S. J. Oltmans, and J. Staehelin, “Trends and variability of midlatitude stratospheric water vapour deduced from the re-evaluated Boulder balloon series and HALOE,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. 8, 1391–1402 (2008). [CrossRef]

Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss.

• J. J. Remedios, R. J. Leigh, A. M. Waterfall, D. P. Moore, H. Sembhi, I. Parkes, J. Greenhough, M. P. Chipperfield, and D. Hauglustaine, “MIPAS reference atmospheres and comparisons to V4.61/V4.62 MIPAS level 2 geophysical data sets,” Atmos. Chem. Phys. Discuss. 7, 9973–10017 (2007). [CrossRef]

Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc.

• J. T. Kiehl and K. E. Trenberth, “Earths annual global mean energy budget,” Bull. Am. Meteorol. Soc. 78, 197–208 (1997). [CrossRef]

Geophys. Res. Lett.

• K. H. Rosenlof, S. J. Oltmans, D. Kley, J. M. Russell, E. W. Chiou, W. P. Chu, D. G. Johnson, K. K. Kelly, H. A. Michelsen, G. E. Nedoluha, E. E. Remsberg, G. C. Toon, and M. P. McCormick, “Stratospheric water vapor increases over the past half-century,” Geophys. Res. Lett. 28, 1195–1198 (2001). [CrossRef]
• S. J. Oltmans, H. Vomel, D. J. Hofmann, K. H. Rosenlof, and D. Kley, “The increase in stratospheric water vapor from balloon borne, frostpoint hygrometer measurements at Washington, DC, and Boulder, Colorado,” Geophys. Res. Lett. 27, 3453–3456 (2000). [CrossRef]

J. Atmos. Sci.

• M. A. Geller, X. L. Zhou, and M. H. Zhang, “Simulations of the interannual variability stratospheric water vapor,” J. Atmos. Sci. 59, 1076–1085 (2002). [CrossRef]
• W. J. Randel, F. Wu, S. J. Oltmans, K. Rosenlof, and G. E. Nedoluha, “Interannual changes of stratospheric water vapor and correlations with tropical tropopause temperatures,” J. Atmos. Sci. 61, 2133–2148 (2004). [CrossRef]

J. Geophys. Res.

• D. J. Seidel, R. J. Ross, J. K. Angell, and G. C. Reid, “Climatological characteristics of the tropical tropopause as revealed by radiosondes,” J. Geophys. Res. 106, 7857–7878 (2001). [CrossRef]
• X. L. Zhou, M. A. Geller, and M. H. Zhang, “Cooling trend of the tropical cold point tropopause temperatures and its implications,” J. Geophys. Res. 106, 1511–1522 (2001). [CrossRef]
• G. E. Nedoluha, R. M. Bevilacqua, R. M. Gomez, B. C. Hicks, J. M. Russell, and B. J. Connor, “An evaluation of trends in middle atmospheric water vapor as measured by HALOE, WVMS, and POAM,” J. Geophys. Res. 108, 4391–4400 (2003). [CrossRef]
• J. M. Russell, L. L. Gordley, J. H. Park, S. R. Drayson, W. D. Hesketh, R. J. Cicerone, A. F. Tuck, J. E. Frederick, J. E. Harries, and P. J. Crutzen, “The halogen occultation experiment,” J. Geophys. Res. 98, 10777–10797 (1993). [CrossRef]

J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat.

• S. Ceccherini, B. Carli, U. Cortesi, S. Del Bianco, and P. Raspollini, “Retrieval of the vertical column of an atmospheric constituent from data fusion of remote sensing measurements,” J. Quant. Spectrosc. Radiat. 111, 507–514 (2010). [CrossRef]

Opt. Express

• S. Ceccherini, P. Raspollini, and B. Carli, “Optimal use of the information provided by indirect measurements of atmospheric vertical profiles,” Opt. Express 17, 4944–4958 (2009). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Opt. Lett.

• S. Ceccherini, “Analytical determination of the regularization parameter in the retrieval of atmospheric vertical profiles,” Opt. Lett. 30, 2554–2556 (2005). [CrossRef] [PubMed]

Science

• S. Salomon, K. H. Rosenlof, R. W. Portmann, J. S. Daniel, S. M. Davis, T. J. Sanford, and G. K. Plattner, “Contributions of stratospheric water vapor to decadal changes in the rate of global warming,” Science , 327, 1219–1223 (2010). [CrossRef]

Other

• D. Kley, J. M. Russell, and C. Phillips, “SPARC Assessment of Upper Tropospheric and Stratospheric Water Vapour,” WCRP Report No. 113, WMO/TD Report No. 1043, World Climate Research Programme, Geneva, 325 pp. (2000).
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), Climate Change 2007: The Physical Science Basis, Contribution of Working Group I to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change , edited by: S. Solomon, D. Qin, M. Manning, Z. Chen, M. Marquis, K.B. Averyt, M. Tignor, and H.L. Miller, (Cambridge University Press, 2007). [PubMed]
• C. D. Rodgers, Inverse Methods for Atmospheric Sounding: Theory and Practice, Vol. 2 of Series on Atmospheric, Oceanic and Planetary Physics (World Scientific, 2000). [CrossRef]
• M. Birk German Aerospace Center, Remote Sensing Technology Institute, Experimental Methods, Münchner Straße 20, Oberpfaffenhofen-Wessling 82234 (personal communication, 2011).
• European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, “91 model level definitions,” http://www.ecmwf.int/products/data/technical/model_levels/model_def_91.html (2007).

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