On moisture-flux parameterization

From direct measurements of vertical fluxes of moisture representing conditions in extremely different areas, parameterization according to the simple linear Dalton-formula leads to an apparent negative moisture flux. It is argued that this effect can be traced to deviations of moisture conditions at the interface from the saturation value according to the subsurface sea-temperature. The measurements presented were taken over the German Bight and the Baltic sea using a microwave-refractometer, a sonic-anemometer and a fine platinum wire thermometer. The BOMEX-and San Diego measurements (Phelps and Pond, 1971) have been added to the sample.