INVESTIGATION OF TOTAL COLUMN WATER-VAPOR CONTENT IN THE ATMOSPHERE

The results of perennial systematic measurements of total column water vapor content in the atmosphere are presented. It is shown that the t otal content varies within wide limits during a day, a season and from year to year. The role of different mechanisms responsible for variat ion of total column water vapor content in the atmosphere is discussed . It is found that minumim (winter) water vapor content correlates wit h the temperature near the ground and maximum (summer) content correla tes with the Northern hemisphere global temperature. A positive linear trend of about 1% per year has been observed for total water vapor co ntent.