New BG Letter: Water vapour dynamics as a key determinant of atmospheric composition and transport mechanisms
16 December 2025
Humidification of air reduces the abundances of dry-air gas components such as oxygen, explaining why tropical humidity can be "stifling". This is overlooked due to the common expression of gas concentrations as fractions of dry air. Such neglect of water vapour also masks the key role of its sources and sinks in activating transport mechanisms of other gases. Humidity should be quantified whenever reporting gas concentrations.
Co-editor-in-chief's statement: This study presents a novel view on water vapour dynamics and the role it plays for atmospheric composition and transport mechanisms.
Water vapour dynamics as a key determinant of atmospheric composition and transport mechanisms
Biogeosciences, 22, 8005–8012, https://doi.org/10.5194/bg-22-8005-2025, 2025
Contact: Andrew S. Kowalski (andyk@ugr.es)
