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Atmospheric Science
Atmospheric Science

Photo: Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, NASA Johnson Space Center

Study on shortwave water vapor feedback

6 August 2025

In a new study, CLICCS researcher Florian Römer and colleagues explore the clear-sky shortwave water vapor feedback, a lesser-known mechanism that amplifies warming by increasing the atmosphere’s ability to trap sunlight as water vapor levels rise. While the longwave (infrared) effects of water vapor are well understood, this shortwave component has remained under the radar.

Full open-access study in npj Climate and Atmospheric Science: Roemer, F. E., S. A. Buehler, and K. P. Menang (2025), How to think about the clear-sky shortwave water vapor feedback

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