New long path length, high resolution, Fourier transform spectrometer measu
rements for water are presented. These spectra cover the near infrared, vis
ible, and near ultraviolet regions and contain water transitions belonging
to all polyads from 3 nu to 8 nu. Transitions in the range 13 100-21 400 cm
(-1) are analyzed using line lists computed using variational first-princip
les calculations. 2286 new transitions are assigned to (H2O)-O-16. These re
sult in the observation of transitions in 15 new overtone and combination b
ands of water. Energy levels for these and other newly observed levels are
presented. It is suggested that local mode rather than normal mode vibratio
nal assignments are more appropriate for the vibrational states of water in
polyads 4 nu and above. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-960
6(99)00830-2].