The Madden–Julian Oscillation and Equatorial Waves in Upper Tropospheric Water Vapor

The Madden–Julian oscillation (MJO) and convectively coupled equatorial waves have frequently been identified with proxies for convection such as outgoing longwave radiation. This method is well suited to the Indo–Pacific region where deep convection is abundant. However, tracking becomes more difficult in the Western Hemisphere. The convection dissipates, even as the signals persist in the upper troposphere. Inter-satellite calibration techniques have recently produced a homogeneous 31-year dataset of upper tropospheric water vapor (UTWV). These data will be used to revisit the climatologies of the MJO and equatorial waves with the goal of developing a more global view. The utility of UTWV for operational monitoring of these systems will also be explored.