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The MLS RHI Product

Contact: William Read


Basic Information

RHi, relative humidity with respect to ice, is the ratio of (1) the amount of ice that an air parcel contains to (2) the maximum amount of ice that the parcel could contain in equilibrium at its current temperature. Relative humidity is generally expressed in percent.
A map of Relative Humidity
 Sample relative humidity retrieval map


How it is part of MLS Science Objectives

One of the scientific objectives of MLS is studying climate change. MLS measurements of relative humidity along with temperature and cloud ice are important for improving our understanding climate processes.


How EOS MLS derives RHI

RHI is relative humidity with respect to ice. It is a derived product from the standard products of water vapor and terperature using the Goff-Gratch formula.

Another sample relative humidity retrieval map

(map from 2005d264)


Quick Product Information for data version v3.3

  • Swath Name: RHI
  • Vertical Resolution:4 - 8 km from 316-0.22 hPa
    12 - 16 km from 0.10-0.002 hPa
  • Useful Range: profile from 316 - 0.002 hPa
  • DAAC Short Name: ML2RHI
  • Precision: 20-70% at 316-83 hPa
    15% from 68-0.46 hPa
    >20% at 0.22-0.002 hPa


Publications related to the MLS RHi data product

2010

  1. L'Ecuyer, T.S., "Touring the atmosphere aboard the A-Train", num 63, pgs. 7, 2010. Preprint

2007

  1. Read, W.G., "Aura Microwave Limb Sounder upper tropospheric and lower stratospheric H2O and relative humidity with respect to ice validation", vol doi:10.1029/2007JD008752, num 112, 2007. Reprint Preprint Abstract

2006

  1. Cofield, R.E., "Design and field-of-view calibration of 114-660 GHz optics of the Earth Observing System Microwave Limb Sounder", num 44, pgs. no. 5, 2006. Preprint
  2. Sherwood, S.C., "A distribution law for free-troposphere relative humidity", num 19, 2006. Reprint Preprint

2005

  1. Waugh, D.W., "Impact of potential vorticity intrusions on subtropical upper tropospheric humidity", vol doi:10.1029/2004JD005664, num 110, 2005. Preprint

2004

  1. Jiang, J.H., "Geographical Distribution and Inter-Seasonal Variability of Tropical Deep Convection: UARS MLS Observations and Analyses", vol doi:10.1029/2003JD003756, num 109, 2004. Preprint
  2. Read, W.G., "A New 147-56 hPa Water Vapor Product from the UARS Microwave Limb Sounder", vol doi:10.1029/2003JD004366, num 109, 2004. Preprint
  3. Read, W.G., "Dehydration in the Tropical Tropopause Layer: Implications from UARS MLS", vol doi:10.1029/2003JD004056, num 109, 2004. Preprint

2003

  1. Salby, M., "Fluctuations of Cloud, Humidity, and Thermal Structure near the Tropical Tropopause", num 16, 2003. Preprint

2002

  1. Folkins, I., "A simple explanation for the increase in relative humidity between 11 and 14 km in the tropics", vol doi:10.1029/2002JD002185, num 107, pgs. D23, 2002. Preprint
  2. Sassi, F., "Influence of the Madden-Julian Oscillation on upper tropospheric humidity", vol doi:10.1029/2001JD001331, num 107, pgs. D23, 2002. Preprint
  3. Spichtinger, P., "The statistical distribution law of relative humidity in the global tropopause region", vol doi:10.1127/0941-2948/2002/0011-0083, num 11, 2002.

2001

  1. Folkins, I., "Origin of Lapse Rate Changes in the Upper Tropical Tropopause", num 59, 2001. Preprint
  2. Pawson, S., "The Tropical Upper Troposphere and Lower Stratosphere in the GEOS-2 GCM", num 27, 2001. Preprint
  3. Read, W.G., "UARS Microwave Limb Sounder Upper Tropospheric Humidity Measurement: Method and Validation", num 106, pgs. D23, 2001. Reprint Preprint
  4. Sassi, F., "Relationship between upper tropospheric humidity and deep convection", num 106, pgs. D15, 2001. Reprint Preprint



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