Harmonic analysis of the mean northern hemisphere water vapor distribution for the year 1950

Summary Harmonic analyses along latitudes 30°, 45° and 60° of the mean northern hemisphere water vapor field are presented. The seasonal variations of these spectra are investigated and the relative contributions of the various scales of mean eddies to the meridional transport of water vapor are calculated. Of special interest is the finding that perturbations of wave number 2, corresponding to the great continents and oceans, are dominant at all three latitudes and of primary importance in effecting the northward transport of water vapor.The research reported in this article was sponsored by the Geophysics Research Directorate, Air Force Cambridge Research Center, under Contract No. AF 19 (604)-2242.