Tropospheric - Stratospheric Tidal Investigations. Part I. Hough Components of Water Vapour Heating.

Abstract : Formulae are derived for the Hough components and mean rate of insolational heating by water vapour absorption in an atmosphere with cloud-related scattering properties. Global models of specific humidity and cloud amount are adopted for the months of January, April, July, and October and used in conjunction with adopted values of surface albedo, absorption coefficients and scattering parameters to evaluate diurnal and semi-diurnal components of heating for migrating modes. The inclusion of cloud scattering has the notable effect of nearly doubling heating rates at 8 km altitude and of halving values near the surface. A number of non-migrating components associated with the principal diurnal and semi-diurnal modes have also been evaluated. (Author)