authority: gcos
slug: surface-water-vapour
name: Surface Water Vapour
domain: atmosphere
subdomain: surface
authority_id: gcos:surface-water-vapour
external_ids:
  nvs_uri: null
  cf_standard_name: specific_humidity
  iadopt_concepts:
    property: humidity
    entity: air
canonical_units: "1"
gcos_requirement_tier:
  threshold: null
  breakthrough: null
  goal: null
description: |
  Water vapour content of the near-surface atmosphere, expressed as specific
  or relative humidity, dew point or vapour pressure. A dominant greenhouse
  gas and key driver of evaporation, clouds, and precipitation.
theme: weather
demos: []
status: documented
sources:
  - https://gcos.wmo.int/site/global-climate-observing-system-gcos/essential-climate-variables/water-vapour