NCAR–NOAA Lower-Tropospheric Water Vapor Workshop

Abstract

A workshop on remote sensing of lower-tropospheric water vapor, jointly sponsored by the National Center for Atmospheric Research (NCAR) and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, was held on 30 June and 1 July 1998 at NCAR in Boulder, Colorado. Scientists representing a variety of disciplines, from climate to weather forecasting, presented their needs for improved water vapor measurements. Engineers and scientists gave information on the current technology for water vapor measuring platforms and retrieval methods. The workshop concluded with an open forum at which the participants agreed upon a general recommendation supporting the use, improvement, and development of active and passive remote sensing techniques to obtain three-dimensional fields of water vapor and their evolution. In addition, several specific recommendations were adopted, including the organization of field campaigns for cross validation of measurement techniques, the focus of attention to improve water vapor measurements in and near clouds, and increased collaboration within the community to build, operate, and provide access to airborne and ground-based water vapor remote measuring systems.