Abstract
his paper presents mean maps of upper tropospheric temperature and constant-pressure height fields constructed from SIRS (Satellite Infrared Spectrometer) data for the period June-July 1969.These tropical Atlantic data were gathered for both clear and cloudy atmospheres.
Temperature analyses at seven pressure levels above 500mb revealed generally cooler temperatures over the continental areas and warmer temperatures over the ocean. Constant-pressure height profiles indicated lower values over the continents in contrast to higher values over the ocean. With increasing cloud amount, the area of high height values shrank while areas of low height values expanded and became more dominant, suggesting a profound influence of cloud
cover on the constant-pressure height profiles. The scatter diagrams of height versus percent cloud cover in the instrument field of view also suggest that increases in percent cloud cover and greater cloud thickness are related to decreases in height of all constant-pressure surfaces above and below cloud top levels.
