Satellite and CALJET Aircraft Observations of Atmospheric Rivers over the Eastern North Pacific Ocean during the Winter of 1997/98

Abstract

This study uses a unique combination of airborne and satellite observations to characterize narrow regions of strong horizontal water vapor flux associated with polar cold fronts that occurred over the eastern North Pacific Ocean during the winter of 1997/98. Observations of these ''atmospheric rivers'' are compared with past numerical modeling studies to confirm that such narrow features account for most of the instantaneous meridional water vapor transport at midlatitudes.