Water vapor is one of the most significant constituents
of the atmosphere since it is the means by which moisture and latent heat are transported to cause "weather". Water vapor is
also a greenhouse gas that plays a critical role in the global climate system. This role is not restricted to absorbing and radiating
energy from the sun, but includes the effect it has on the formation of clouds and aerosols and the chemistry of the lower atmosphere.
Despite its importance to atmospheric processes over a wide range of spatial and temporal scales, water vapor is one of the least
understood and poorly described components of the Earth's atmosphere.
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